YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

Bequest of
SINCLAIR LEWIS
Yale 1907

GOV. JOHN BURKE

HISTORY

OF

THE RED RIVER
VALLEY
PAST AND PRESENT
Including an Account of the Counties, Cities, Towns
and Villages of the Valley from the Time
of Their First Settlement and
Formation
BY VARIOUS WRITERS
IN TWO VOLUMES
VOLUME II

ILLUSTRATED

HERALD PRINTING COMPANY
GRAND FORKS
C. F. COOPER & COMPANY
v CHICAGO 1909

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Ames, Francis W  690
Arnold, H. F  646
Austinson, A. T  838
Bogstad, Prof. R  816
Bruce, Andrew A  974
Burke, Gov. John  Frontispiece
Buttz, Maj. C. W  784
Cashel, J. L  680
Cavanagh, Dr. J. E  984
Clifford, George B  992
Concordia College  812
Davy, W. H  830
Deacon, William S  958
DeReemer, J. B  1002
Grand Forks, Looking North  616
Gray, A. H  700
Gronna, Asle J  670
Hallock, Charles  938
Hassell, L. K  624
Hedenberg, R. R   848
Konzen, Peter H  944
LaMoure, Hon. Judson  664
Larimore, Newel G  638
Mackall, B. F  806
Mahon, John  654
McDonald, Donald  1060
Merritt, W. H  1068
Nash, William C  868

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Nelson, Edward  924
Nelson, E. A  930
Nisbet, Thomas  602
Norman, M  630
Northwestern Hospital, Moorhead  820
Nyvoll, Rev. J. A  824
Peirce, Joseph D  1082
Perley, George C  1024
Pugh, Thomas H  1040
Richardson, L. B  1090
Rounsevell, Dr. A. P  1094
Sandager, AndreAv  730
Sehroeder, Henry  792
Scott, J. W  592
Sharp, Hon. James H  800
Shirley, H. L  910
Spriggs, William  610
Strandness, S   1116
Sundberg, Hon. B. E  884
Tandberg, Nels  1120
Terrett, J. H  1012
Thompson, Peter  826
Titus, S. S  584
Tofhagen, Amund C  672
Wheeler, Edwin J  1144
Wilder, Frank  1150
Winterer, Herman  704
Wisner, V. S  1050

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 581
The First Settlement.
We have now arrived at the period when settlers began to
occupy the west side of Red river with the intention of establish
ing permanent settlements. With the spreading of the incoming
population over the North Dakota side of the valley, this work
is not specially concerned, excepting in so far as this immigration
was confined to the limits of Grand Forks county with its present
boundaries. That subject will presently be given considerable
attention, since county histories, at least in the western states,
are mainly concerned with settlements, phases of life and the
progress in different decades of their material development.
As viewed from the historic standpoint, Grand Forks county,
relative to its progress for the last thirty years, may be said to
present the following points as characteristic of this compara
tively brief period : Here was made the second settlement, so far
as the occupation of a townsite is concerned, of white families in
the state ; the first was made at Pembina by a part of the Selkirk
colony about 1813. During the first seven or eight years of the
period referred to, the settlement of the county progressed in a
slow and fitful manner, not much advancement being made within
that time to any particular distance west of Red river excepting
up the course of Goose river. In the meantime, conditions were
such that the agricultural development of the county was being
held in abeyance. During most of this interval the history of
the county is chiefly bound up in that of the settlement at Grand
Forks. When, finally, its interior portion began to be occupied
by the incoming settlers, it was along the timbered streams and
not upon the open prairie that these earlier locations were made.
Then, from one to two years later, a movement west from Grand
Forks began by which the prairie lands were rapidly taken, this
westward advancement of population being through the central
part of the county, but with considerable deflection in some locali
ties north and south of the course of the main movement. In
1880, the year that the railroad development of the county began,
immigration into it commenced in earnest, the floodtide reaching
had been quite generally overran and the most of its vacant lands
high- water mark in 1882, so that by the year following the county

582 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
filed upon. Toward the end its settlement progressed with accel
erated rapidity.
Within about ten years after the initial settlement had been
made, the railroad development of the county was begun and
was completed to its present mileage in a little more than seven
years. Within this second interval the existent towns and vil
lages of the county, built upon these lines, had their beginning
and have been gradually building up since that time. The city
of Grand Forks, especially, has made phenomenal progress since
becoming a railroad center. Since 1882, yet more particularly
within the last dozen years, the farms, generally, have been un
dergoing improvement, increasing in respect to what is really
substantial valuation, and the aggregate wealth of the county
has also increased until it is now rated as one of the wealthy
ones of the state. Though considerable was brought in, the most
of this wealth has been created here.
Since the county was overrun by settlers, or what is more to
the point, since the last decennial census, its gain in population
has resulted more from what is called natural increase, and from
the building up of the towns and peopling of the same by later
comers than from any further occupation of land or division of
farms into smaller holdings. Since 1883, speculation has sub
sided, society crystallized, education advanced and existing con
ditions along all lines have had time to become long and firmly
established. Before speaking of the creation and organization of the
county, it will be in order at this point to take a glance at the
conditions existent here about the time that the first settlement
was made within its present boundaries. We have only to go back
about thirty years. In the case of counties originally well for
ested, and which contained swamps and small marshes capable of
being drained, the changes that have been wrought in their phys
ical aspect within thirty or forty years after settlement have often
been of a very marked character, but with counties like Grand
Forks, the changes, though considerable, are more of a superficial
nature, the result of town and other building, railroad construc
tion, cultivation of land, planting of artificial groves and hedge
rows on the farms and shade trees in the towns.

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 583
Aspects and Conditions in 1870.
There being no great amount of timber land in the county in
comparison with its area, the greater portion of it lay in 1870 as
wild prairie land exists in its primitive state. The natural prairie
grass was short, only attaining a height suitable for use as hay in
moist or wet places where there had been some gathering of the
waters when the snow melted. Of wet, sedgy places, occupying
shallow depressions of the prairie, there were then a far greater
number of them than there are now. Interspersed with the.
prairie grass there grew quite a variety of botanical plants, many
of them of the flowering kind. The buffalo had but recently dis
appeared and had not been gone long enough for their walloAvs
to have become grassed over or their trails obliterated, but the
elk, antelope, coyote, fox, etc., still remained as denizens of the
country. The gopher was not abundant, for the coyote and fox
thinned their number. Thus these prairie lands lay vacant,
awaiting the coming of the settler and the touch of the plow.
There were then no claimants to the limited tracts of timber
that border the interior streams of the county. The timber was
more or less clogged in places, with the floatwood and flotage of
these watercourses, the fallen and dead timber, vines and under
brush, and occasionally there were to be found a few fire-scarred
and blackened trunks of trees still standing Avhere they had
grown. There were then to be seen in places along the streams
the worn trails of the buffalo, where they had wended their way
down the slopes to drink or to cross from the prairie on one side
to that on the other. Where the banks were steep the herds
made use of the coulees that occasionally occur in such places,
in their movements in and out of the stream valleys. Followed
upward, the trails were soon lost on the prairies, and upon any
of the slopes they were deepened somewhat by winds and rains
at the time that the buffaloes used them, and not wholly so by
the treading of the animals themselves.
In the spring and fall, wild fowl of all kinds that were birds
of passage to this region, paused for awhile in and around the
ponds and marshy places of the valley plain and higher back
country, in large numbers, and with little probability of being

584 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
disturbed by man, though it should be said that Indians and half-
breeds occasionally visited the county during their hunting expe
ditions, but at that time there were but few even of these. In the
same year also, there were a couple of cabins of white men at
the forks of the river, the only habitations in the present county,
and a well worn cart route passed the same point, the timbered
banks of the stream each summer being made resonant with the
noise of trains of the creaking Red river carts of famous memory,
mingled with the oaths and shouts of the drivers.
There was plying on the river in those days a single steamboat
— the International — owned by and operated in the interest of
the Hudson Bay Company. During the spring, when there was
a good stage of water, the boat sometimes went up stream as far
as Fort Abercrombie in running between Fort Garry and any of
the up-river points, and later in the season only as far as George
town. In the fall, when the water ran low in the Goose rapids,
she only ran up as far as Frog Point. The boat Avas then making
as many as three trips each season and the cart brigades but one.
The Old Cart Trails.
There were three cart routes or "half breed trails," as the
early settlers called them, that crossed through different parts of
the present county. The river route has already been referred to.
It was one of the cart routes from Pembina and Fort Garry to
St. Paul and later to St. Cloud after that place became a railroad
point. It followed the general trend of the river, of course, cut
ting off the bends. It was already old when Griggs and Vaughn
first saw it in the fall of 1870, and it probably dated from the
early 'forties if it was first struck out by the independent traders
of Rolette's time. At all events, it was no recently marked way
when Major Woods and Captain Pope followed its court in 1849,
and the mail appears to have been carried over it ten years later
than that date. In 1870 it was a well worn trail. "Hundreds of
carts in summer and dog-sleds in winter traveled over it, ' ' writes
Vaughn, and at the close of the preceding part of this work an
other old timer has mentioned what impressed himself concerning
it during the same year.
Next in age was the old Georgetown trail that passed through

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 585
the western part of the county. This had been abandoned for
several years when first observed by the settlers who had located
in that section, and it was then already grass-grown. It followed
the loAver slope of the uplands through this county, at least to a
considerable extent, if not wholly so, and on account of avoiding
such wet or sedgy places as existed toward the western side of
the Elk valley, then occurring more frequently than now. This
trail led from Fort Garry to Fort Abercrombie, thence to St. Paul
by one of the Minnesota routes that have been mentioned. A
branch trail, or cross-cut, from Georgetown ran northwest through
parts of Cass and Traill counties, intersecting the inland trail,
and together these formed a continuous route between the George
town and St. Joseph posts, thence to Fort Garry. Hence it came
to be called by the early settlers of Traill county, who found it
still plainly marked upon the surface, the "old Georgetown trail."
Charles H. Lee, of Walhalla, the compiler of the "Long Ago"
sketches, writes to the author : ' ' This trail, I think, was opened
up about 1859. Mr. J. F. Mager, now a resident here, came in
over that trail that year with his father, and he states that it was
not a trail at that time in the proper sense of the word, as it was
hardly discernible and, at points, would have been lost entirely
but for the knowledge of their Indian guide."
The reason why this route was opened so far west of Red river
was probably due to the fact that in spring and early summer
the route near the river, in some places, became well nigh im
passable. On that account a more dry route upon higher land
was desirable. In 1870, men with teams, materials and supplies
were sent from Fort Abercrombie to re-establish Fort Pembina.
Some were sent down the river by flatboat, but one party, which
included about twenty-five carpenters, were obliged to proceed
by the back country route. At first they traveled by way of the
trail along the river, but this being found impassable for the many
loaded teams accompanying the party, a detour was made and
the more Avestern route was struck at Maple river.
The third one of these cart routes that crossed the area of
country now comprised in Grand Forks county appears to have
been a cross-cut between the river and inland trails and which
formed a route from the Hudson Bay post of Goose river (now

586 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Caledonia) to St. Joseph and Fort Garry. This trail led in a
northwestern direction and passing the "lone tree," it crossed
Turtle river at the Newell C. Morgan place, thence bearing west-
by-north it recrossed the stream near the line between Elm Grove
and Hegton township, and intersected the other trail some dis
tance north of Elm grove. The "lone tree" is a large cottonAVOod
in Section 21, Blooming toAvnship, and is now surrounded by
smaller ones of the same kind. In the old days it stood as a land
mark to travelers coming down the trail and going to Turtle
river and the section around Gilby.
Now the halfbreed trails were unlike those worn upon the
prairies by the settlers in using the common farm wagon. They
consisted of three separate and closely parallel paths, each about
sixteen inches in width, the outer ones being worn by the thick
rimmed, heavy wheels of the cart, and the center one by the
treading of the animals drawing them, both ponies and oxen
being used and harnessed single between the phills of each cart.
Thus peculiar roadways were worn upon the prairie surface by
the passage of the cart trains that annually traversed these routes
and the worn trails remained visible for many years after they
had ceased to be used. The Creation of Counties.
The territory of Dakota, which, as originally formed, extended
from the state of Minnesota, as at present bounded, westward to
the Rocky mountain divide, was created by act of congress
shortly before the opening of the Civil War, the bill having been
signed by President Buchanan on March 2, 1861, which Avas tAvo
days prior to his being succeeded by President Lincoln. The bill
had passed the senate February 26, and the house March 1. The
newly inaugurated president appointed William Jaynes, of Illi
nois, governor of the territory. He arrived at Yankton on May
27, 1861.
The first territorial legislature, consisting of thirteen members
of the house and nine of the council, convened at Yankton March
17. 1862, and held its session until May 15, folloAving. This body
created four counties in what is now North Dakota, and which

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 587
bordered on Red river. These were named from north to south
as follows: Kittson, Chippeway,* Stevens and Sheyenne. Not
a single county in either North or South Dakota now bears any
one of these four names. There were no white inhabitants in any
of these counties when they were created, excepting a few at
Pembina and St. Joseph (now Walhalla) and the officers, soldiers
and employees at Fort Abercrombie. They Avere never organized,
and although they found a place on maps and in some of the
school geographies of the next few years, nothing appears to have
been done toAvard permanently maintaining them either under
their prescribed boundaries or names.
In 1867 a large county was erected out of the present eastern
portion of North Dakota. It was named Pembina county, and
the territorial governor appointed Charles Cavalier, Joseph Ro
lette and Charles Grant county commissioners, who met and
organised the county, August 12, 1867. The following county
officers were appointed : John E. Harrison, register of deeds ;
William H. Moorhead, sheriff; James McFetridge, judge of pro
bate ; and John Dease, superintendent of public instruction. Pem
bina was made the county seat.
The tenth session of the territorial legislature convened at
Yankton December 2, 1872, and continued its session until Janu
ary 10, 1873. Among other acts this assembly passed a bill creat
ing a number of counties in that portion of the territory now
included in the eastern part of North Dakota. These Avere Pem
bina (of less area than that of 1867), Grank Forks, Cass, Rich
land, Cavalier, Foster, Ransom, LaMoure, Renville and Stutsman,
with boundaries more or less different from their present ones.
This act was signed by the governor January 4, 1873.
Probably Judson LaMoure, who was elected the previous fall
to the house, and Enos Stutsman to the council, both from Pem
bina, were more instrumental in fathering the creation of these
counties than any other members of that assembly, and the latter
named gentleman arranged for the naming of them while stop-

* Chippeway county took in all of Traill and Steele excepting tlieir south
ern tier of townships, and all but the southern and western tier of townships
in Griggs, likewise all of Nelson excepting its western range of townships,
and Grand Forks county in its entirety.

588 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ping at the house of Morgan T. Rich, the first settler of Richland
county, on his way to Yankton.*
Organization of Grand Forks County.
In the act creating these counties commissioners were ap
pointed to organize them. George B. Winship, John W. Stewart
and Ole Thompson were named as the board of county commis
sioners to organize Grand Forks county. No attempt to accom
plish this end was made until July, 1873, when Messrs. Winship
and Stewart met at the tavern or stage station kept by the latter
gentleman at Grand Forks. As Mr. Thompson had refused to
qualify as a commissioner, the other two designated 0. S. Free
man as a third commissioner in place of that gentleman. After
four days' session the work of completing this first organization
of the county was accomplished and with the following result:
Register of deeds and county clerk, J. J. Mulligan ; judge of pro
bate, Thomas Walsh; county attorney and superintendent of
schools, 0. S. Freeman. The other officers cannot now be so posi
tively named, no record of their proceedings having been pre
served, but probably Alexander Griggs was appointed treasurer
and Nicholas Huffman sheriff. Alexander Griggs, M. L. McCor-
mack and 0. S. Freeman were appointed a commission to locate
the county seat, and they, of course, selected Grand Forks. t
Thus the county was fully organized according to law in 1873.
But owing to the apathy of the county officers and what perhaps
was a more potent cause, the sparse settlement of the county at
that time, the organization was suffered to lapse, which made
necessary its re-organization the following year. Mr. Winship
has stated that he does not believe that there were then seventy-
five white men in the whole county.
In the fall of 1874, the county was re-organized by the terri
torial governor, John A. Burbank, who appointed a new board of
county commissioners, to wit, David P. Reeves, Alexander Griggs
and George A. Wheeler. Messrs. Wheeler and Reeves met at the
residence of the latter commissioner (Griggs being absent) and
completed the organization of the county March 2, 1875. The

* The Eecord Magazine, September, 1896.
t From data furnished by Geo. B. Winship.

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 589
first officers of the county were : Jaines Elton, register of deeds ;
Nicholas Huffman, sheriff; Thomas Walsh, treasurer and judge
of probate ; George A. Wheeler, superintendent of schools ;
Thomas Walsh and D. P. Reeves, justices of the peace. Thomas
Campbell and James Mulligan were appointed constables and 0.
S. Freeman, district attorney, but failed to qualify. The appoint
ment of a coroner was deferred.
Thus by the spring of 1875 Grand Forks county finally entered
upon the period of its civil history as a distinct and organized
division of Dakota territory. As first created, the county covered
a very large area of the Red River valley, with a considerable
extension into the higher country that lies to the west of the
proper limits of the valley. It comprised .all of the present county,
together with parts of Traill, Steele, Nelson and Walsh counties.
As to the time when the confluence of Red and Red Lake rivers
was first called Grand Forks, we find no mention; but while the
locality was likely designated as "the forks" by the voyageurs of
the fur companies, we suspect that the prefixed word did not long
ante-date the settlement of the place, if at all. But it was applied
to the settlement made there and afterward was also adopted as
the name of the county.
Traill county, formed from parts of Grand Forks and Cass,
was organized February 23, 1875. The commissioners met at
Goose River (now Caledonia) and proceeded to organize the
county. Steele county was of later origin; it was formed from
parts of Traill and Griggs and was organized June 14, 1883. In
the year 1880, Grand Forks county was still one of the largest,
if not the largest county in the territory of Dakota. It still in
cluded the southern half of Walsh county, and its western border
extended to the vicinity of Lakota. In 1881 two tiers of town
ships were separated from its northern border and added to Walsh
county which was created that year by being formed from parts
of Grand Forks and Pembina counties. The county was organ
ized August 30 of the same year. In 1883, townships in three
ranges were also taken from its western part and given to the
newly created county of Nelson, which was organized May 15 of
that year. This reduced the area of Grand Forks county to its
present dimensions.

590 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Legislative and Judicial Districts.
During the earlier years of Dakota territory, when the popu
lation to be represented was sparse, the legislative and judicial
districts were apportioned on a large scale. As the population
increased and the counties were reduced in area by the creation
of others, the districts became more circumscribed, but like the
counties, they increased in number. In the case of the legislative
districts, this resulted in a gradual increase of the members of
the territorial council and house of representatives, but the dis
trict judges hardly increased in like proportion. At every session
of the legislature changes were made either with the legislative
or judicial districts, or both, effecting their boundaries, designated
numbers, etc., as new ones were created. We are only interested
in those in which this county was concerned and can only indicate
the general trend of matters.
At first the eastern part of the territory constituted one legis
lative district, the Fourth, called the Big Sioux and Red River
district. The members of the first legislature were elected Sep
tember 16, 1861, and Hugh Donaldson was a member of the house
from Pembina that session. In the second session, which con-
A7ened December 1, 1862, and held to January 9, 1863, James
McFetridge was a member of the council and James Y. Buckman
and Hugh Donaldson Avere members of the house. At this ses
sion the Red River district was created. For one or two sessions
thereafter this district was not represented in the legislature.
Enos Stutsman came to the territory from Des Moines, Iowa,
as private secretary to Governor Jaynes. After representing the
Yankton district for several sessions during which period he was
three times chosen president of the council, he took up his resi
dence at Pembina and Avas sent to the house in the legislature of
1867-8, and was chosen speaker of the house. It was this legis
lature that created the big county of Pembina.
In 1877 the counties of Grand Forks and Pembina constituted
the Eighth council district which was entitled to one member of
the council. In 1879 the counties of Traill, Grand Forks and
Pembina formed the Tenth district and Avas entitled to one mem
ber of the council and two members of the house. In 1881 Grand

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 591
Forks, Traill and Walsh were made to constitute the Twelfth
district, the member of the council to be elected from Grand
Forks county. In 1885 Grand Forks county Avas designated as
the Nineteenth legislative district.
Under statehood Grand Forks county is divided into three
districts, the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh, and each is entitled to one
senator and two representatives. For the townships and city
wards that comprise each of these districts the reader is referred
to the state constitution or to the Revised Codes of 1895.
The territorial judges were appointed by the president of the
United States, but the legislature created the judicial districts
and made the frequent changes of subdivisions, boundaries, etc.,
that became necessary. The judges were also associate justices
of the supreme court of the territory. It was then divided only
into three districts. The counties comprising these districts were
often grouped together in subdivisions and the terms of court
held at some one designated place for each subdivision of a dis
trict. In other cases single counties constituted a subdivision, if
sufficiently populous.
A North Dakota judicial district was created by the territorial
legislature of 1870-1 and Pembina was designated as the place
where the court was to sit. The first session was held there in
June, 1871, Judge George W. French presiding. George I. Foster
was clerk; L. H. Lichfield, United States marshal; Judson La
Moure, deputy, and Warren Cowles, United States attorney. This
was the first court held in North Dakota. Judge Peter C. Shannon
succeeded French and held two terms of court at Pembina in
1872. Judge A. H. Barnes Avas appointed associate justice by
President Grant in 1873 and held office imtil succeeded by Judge
Hudson. In 1877 the counties of Cass, Stutsman, Richland, Ransom,
LaMoure, Traill, Grand Forks, Pembina, Barnes, Foster, Ramsey,
Cavalier, Gingras (now Wells), French (now Benson and Peirce),
and Rolette constituted a large subdivision of the Third judicial
district, the whole district then comprising nearly all of the area
of North Dakota. The court for this subdivision was to be held
at Fargo twice each year. In 1879 the district was made to com
prise six subdivisions with as many designated county seats at

592 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
which terms of the district court Avere to be held. The county of
Grand Forks singly Avas made one of these subdiAisions. It was
while Judge Barnes was in office that the first term of district
court was held at Grand Forks.
In 1881 Judge S. A. Hudson became the incumbent of the
Third judicial district, and held the office four years. He was
succeeded by Judge William B. McConnell, appointed by Presi
dent CleAeland, May 8, 1885. The Third district was still quite
extensiA-e. In 1888 there Avere six districts; the northeastern
counties, including Grand Forks, were now formed into a new
district called the Fourth, Charles F. Templeton being appointed
judge. Under state government the counties of Pembina, Cavalier,
Walsh, Nelson and Grand Forks were designated as the First
judicial district. In 1895 the three northern counties of the five
just named Avere formed into a separate district, called the
SeA7enth, Grand Forks and Nelson counties remaining as the First
judicial district. Judge Templeton Avas elected to fill the office of
district judge when the present state gOA7ernment was organized,
was re-elected in 1892, and he Avas succeeded by Judge Charles J.
Fisk, who entered upon the duties of his office January 4. 1897.
United States Land Office.
The *first United States land office in Dakota territory was
opened at Vermillion in 1862. The first one established in North
Dakota Avas opened at Pembina, December 19, 1S70. with George
F. Potter, register, and B. F. Brooks, receiver. Its location being
at the northeast corner of the territory and not conveniently
situated, it Avas removed to Fargo and opened there August 1,
1874. Six years later a new land district was created in the
northeastern part of what is now North Dakota, and the United
States land office at Grand Forks was accordingly opened April
20, 1880, B. C. Tiffany being its first register and W. J. Anderson,
receiver. Sections 16 and 36 of each surveyor s township are reserved as
school lands. In this county these lands amount to 51,520 acres.
In 1893 the legislature made provision for the sale or rental of
the school lands of the state for benefit of the school fund.

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 593

Population.

When the United States census for 1860 was taken, there were
no white inhabitants in the area now comprised in Grand Forks
county. In 1871 there Avere about fifty at the settlement made
that year at Grand Forks. The population in 1875 was some
thing over 2,000. The census of 1880 gave Grand Porks county
a population of 6,248 inhabitants, but probably about 1,000 of
these were located in the southern half of Walsh county, then a
part of this county. There was a territorial census taken in 1885 ;
this gave the county with present boundaries, 20,454 inhabitants.
The census of 1890 showed that the population was then 18,321.
This indicates a considerable decrease since 1885, probably
chiefly due to re-emigration. The present population is reckoned
at 26,494. The Timber Settlements.
Early in the pioneer period of this county, the Avay of the
immigrant was doAvn Red river, at first from McCauleyville by
steamer, stage or flatboat, and a little later from Moorhead and
Fargo by the same means of conveyance. After 1877, many came
in by way of Crookston and Fishers Landing, or by railroad to
the latter point, thence by stage, steamer or other means of con
veyance, to Grand Forks. Many others teamed through from
distant points. In those days Grand Forks was the common
gateway into the county.
As has already been remarked, speculators covered some of
the timber along Red river with script. Much of the timber
between Grand Porks and the mouth of Turtle river was taken
in that way. Fortunately for the county these non-resident per
sons did not attempt to extend their operations up the courses of
the smaller streams, hence it is upon these tributaries of Red
river, probably without exception, that we find the location of
the pioneer settlers of the inland townships of Traill, Grand Forks
and Walsh counties.
The timber settlers found the greater portion of the prairie
land in the county vacant and as open to the mere taking by any

594 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
one class of men as by another, yet, being the first comers into
the country back from Red river, and having a pretty free choice
of location, they preferred making their homes on the streams
and amidst the trees that cover their sloping banks and stretches
of bottom land. They squatted or filed upon quarter-sections on
which there was some show of timber, though their claims often
included a considerable acreage of the adjoining prairie land.
Claims wholly of prairie land were really more valuable in the
long run and in after years many of these men realized that they
had made a mistake in their choice of a location ; others, perhaps,
remained satisfied.
All through the western country the pioneer settlers have
usually preferred land comprising both prairie and timber; hence,
in a region where the amount of timber was limited, the claims
containing any would naturally be the first occupied. In the case
of the Red River valley, many of the pioneer class Avere emigrants
from the wooded sections of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota, con
sequently they preferred the shelter that is secured in the timber
from the cold winds, and lumber not then being readily obtaina
ble, the log cabins they erected cost but little ; again, they wished
to be sure of having plenty of fuel close at hand during the pros
pectively cold winters of this northern latitude, and still another
reason that influenced some of them was that, having heard that
the water of the prairie districts was apt to be alkaline, they pre
ferred to establish their homes near the running streams.
At this early period there was an abundance of fallen timber,
well seasoned, in every wooded tract, which made good fuel and
was useful for other purposes. In the western part of the county
these timber settlements were made in adArance of the govern
ment survey, and by the close of the year 1880, every quarter-
section within its present limits on Avhich there Avas any show of
timber had its resident claimant occupying a small log cabin,
whether such townships had then been subdivided or not. Thus
these earlier settlers of the interior parts of this county followed
up the Goose, Turtle and Forest rivers, building their log cabins
in the shelter of the groves along these streams in preference to
locating upon the open prairie.

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 595
The Government Survey.
Before speaking specially of any of the interior settlements of
the county it will be well to say something concerning the govern
ment survey of its toAvnships. The survey of the public lands in
the North Dakota side of the valley was begun in 1867. In that
year a few townships were laid out and subdivided in the present
county of Pembina and range lines for others were run in the
valley. BetAveen 1870 and 1876 the surveying of the North Da
kota side of the valley became more general. This work was an
extension of the surveys of Minnesota into this part of Dakota
territory, though this does not imply that those in the Minnesota
side of the valley had been fully completed.
In merely running township lines it was customary in those
days for surveyors to take contracts in blocks of townships which
they called "checks." A check comprised twenty-eight town
ships, or a series contained in seven ranges and four towns having
correction parallels for their north and south boundaries. The
township lines as then run were duly marked each half mile by
stakes enclosed in pyramidical mounds about two and a half feet
high and three or four feet square at the base. Similar mounds
of earth and turf were placed at the corners of sections and
quarter-sections when the townships were subdivided, the stakes
being marked so as to indicate the town, range and quarter-sec
tions. Usually it was not the custom to lay out and subdivide any
series of townships in one and the same year, since this work
generally involved separate contracts, nevertheless it was some
times done. But several years — one to four — were apt to elapse
between the laying out of the townships and their subdivision.
In 1870 and '71 a number of townships were laid out in this
county by Moses K. Armstrong, comprising those near the river.
Those in the central and western parts of the county were laid
out later, G. N. Propper having cpntracts in 1873. By the fall
of 1876 it is likely that all of the townships in the county as now
bounded, had been laid out. Judson LaMoure and William Ward
had contracts for the subdivision of six townships in 1873, and
these included the section around Grand Forks. About the same
time other surveyors subdivided the townships to the north of

596 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Grand Forks. Smweyors were at work subdividing the central
toAvnships in 1876.
The last two ranges of townships in the county (55 and 56),
comprising most of the Elk valley and the part of the hill country
within its limits, were subdivided during the summer and fall of
1880. Major G. G. Beardsley had the contract which also included
Strabane township in range 54. Major Beardsley 's expedition
was made up of three parties and it left Fargo in June. Two of
these parties worked outside the limits of this county, one, if not
both, in the Sheyenne country. The party that came to this
county was in charge of James E. Dyke, a young man who ran
the subdivision lines. This party consisted of ten men, well pro
vided with camp supplies, three tents, two ox-teams, a saddle
horse, pony and cart. The teams were used for transportation in
moving camp from one township to another ; the saddle horse was
for a messenger and the pony and cart was in daily use deliA-ering
the mound stakes. It took from five days to a week to subdiA'ide
a toAvnship. Dyke's party Avorked from south to north in the
ranges mentioned, surveying these townships in alternate order.
The survey o"f this county as now bounded was thus completed,
having been in progress at different intervals, through a period
of ten years.
In the fall the contractors turned their plats over to the dis
trict land office; thence they were forwarded to the interior de
partment at Washington for record and approval, and when
returned to the land office, which would likely not occur for sev
eral months, the land was at once thrown open to settlement, and
squatters and prospective settlers were then enabled to make
their filings on such claims as they had already selected.*
The Northwood Settlement.
Early in the seventies the pioneers of Traill county, coming
up from northern Iowa, from Minnesota and Wisconsin, began
to push their settlements up the course of Goose river. Between
1873 and 1875 these settlements were being made in Avhat was

* In part from information derived from D. M. Holmes and Major Geo. G.
Beardsley. The writer saw some of the surveying that was done here in 1880,
and conversed with Dyke as to the methods used in subdividing townships.

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 597
then a part of Grand Forks county as originally bounded. Before
Traill county was created, these settlements on Goose river had
been extended up the stream and into this county as at present
bounded. The timber settlers, coming in from the south, took
to the line of the streams in the order of their occurrence from
south to north, thus it happens that we find that Northwood
township contained settlers several years in advance of any of
the interior townships of this county that are bisected either by
Turtle or Forest rivers. Those Avho made these upper settlements
on the Goose were Scandinavians, some of whom had emigrated
to the territory from northern Iowa, or from around Northwood
in that state.
The first of these settlers to locate in Northwood township
were John and Lars Lindstrom. John came to Dakota in May,
1870, and located on Red river, four miles below the mouth of the
Sheyenne. The Lindstrom brothers made their settlement on
Goose river November 13, 1873. At that time the settlers on the
river had taken the timbered quarter-sections up the stream as
far as the vicinity of Mayville. Between that point and Newberg
there were only a few settlers scattered along the river, and none
had settled above the last named point when the Lindstroms came
and made their selections of land. John Lindstrom states that
Avhen he came to Northwood township his nearest neighbor was
located sixteen miles distant down the stream. But this isolation
did not continue very long.
Nels Korsmo, Ole Tragethon, Halvor Solem and Anton Ostmo
were settlers who came into the township in 1874. Paul C. John
son and Andrew Nelson arrived in 1875. Andrew Sjerva, Peder
Thingelstad, Hans Thingelstad, Guldbran Tandberg and Lars
Thoresen were settlers of 1876. All of those here mentioned Avere
the pioneers of Northwood township. The township lines in this
part of the county had been run by the year 1876 ; the township
Avas subdivided in 1877 and the land was open to receive filings
by the spring of 1878 ; consequently the timber settlers of North-
wood were squatters, and this class of settlers are necessarily
pioneers. Others came in later and took Avhatever timbered
claims may have been left, if any, or who began occupying the

598 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
adjacent prairie lands. On still mornings the smoke from the log
cabins curling upward above the trees indicated that the line of
Goose river was now occupied.
The number of the timber settlers of the county were few in
comparison with those who, a little later, overran the prairie
lands. The first of the numerous prairie settlers of Northwood
township are said to have been T. 0. Midbo and sons who came
in 1878. T. E. Tuffte was a settler of 1879. Knute Paulson and
Erick Overson came about that time. Peter N. and Gunder
Korsmo came with their father in 1874, but not being of age they
did not acquire land at that time.
The nearest supplying point for these settlements was Cale
donia on Red river, near the mouth of the Goose. The settlers
had began raising a little wheat in 1875 and '76, and loads of it
were teamed to Fargo during the same years, after being threshed
by horse-power machines, but in the fall of 1877 and afterAvard,
the grain was teamed to Grand Forks across a wide stretch of
unoccupied prairie. About the year 1876, a steam flour mill Avas
built at Caledonia, to which the Goose river settlers resorted for
flour and feed.
About 1875 a mail route was established between Caledonia
and Newberg, the latter being a point in Steele county eight
miles south of Northwood. Here, in the pioneer days, the settlers
along the headstream of the Goose received their mail. About
1880 a mail route was established between Pembina and Valley
City, the Northwood settlement being made one of the local
offices ; but owing to lack of roads or some other cause it Avas soon
discontinued. The mail-carrier used a span of mules which he
sold to John Lindstrom on throwing up his vocation. Northwood
township was organized in 1879. The original organization seems
to have included the townships of Northwood, Washington, Avon
and Pleasant VieAv.* Turtle River Township.
In the northeastern part of the county there is a heavy body
of timber between the Red and Turtle rivers, and around the
mouth of the latter stream, the Avhole varying from a half mile

* From data furnished by John Lindstrom, Paul C. Johnson and G. Korsmo.

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 599
to one and a half miles in breadth. This forest extends along the
Marais for some distance into Walsh county. Several land entries
were made in this section of Grand Forks county, now called
Turtle River township, when the land office was at Pembina, by
Thomas Campbell, William Cochrane and Angus McDonald, then
residing at Grand Forks.
James M. Stoughton, an early settler of Turtle River toAvnship,
who came to Grand Forks from Ontario in January, 1876, informs
us that most of the timber between Grand Forks and Turtle river,
and for quite a distance north, was mainly taken by the specu
lators. There is very little timber on the west side of Turtle river,
only a f eAv groves here and there, but they reach nearly to Manvel.
The open prairie land in that part of the county began to be
occupied in 1877, other settlers also coming in the next year. In
the fall of 1878 a steam flour and saw mill was built near the
south line of the township by August Christiani and a village
was also platted there in July, 1879, Avhich was called Bellevue.
This place contained, besides the mill, two stores, two hotels, a
blacksmith's shop, a postoffice and a few dwellings. The mill
having been burned down within a few years after it had been
built, and the railroad line from Grand Forks to Neehe having left
the place to one side, it never amounted to much of anything
afterward. No place in the county has ever attained to anything
more than a country hamlet if located off the line of a railroad,
since these have been built.
The Upper Turtle River Settlements.
As a constantly flowing stream, Turtle river does not head
beyond Agnes township, although several tributary coulees extend
back into the hill country for several miles. The course of the
stream is at first southeast to Arvilla township where it attains
its most southerly bend, thence its course is northeast to Meki-
nock, again east adjacent to the township line betAveen Blooming
and Lakeville, and finally it takes a northerly course down the
valley plain, through Perry and Turtle River townships, to its
confluence with Red river near the northeastern corner of the
county. Between Agnes and Mekinock townships the stream is

600 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
contained within something of a valley cut across the central
land belt of the county ; in Hegton and the north part of Arvilla
townships this depression varies from a quarter to a half mile in
breadth and has a depth of from forty to ninety feet beloAv the
common prairie level. This valley is partially timbered.
The stream bisects Mekinock township diagonally. The first
settlers of this tovraship came to its valley in the spring of 1877.
They were Halvor Halvorson and tAvo sons, Avho located near the
present village of Mekinock. The next to come were the Rasmus-
sons and Ole Graff. In the summer of the same year, Robert
Blakely arrived and located in Section 21, near the middle of the
•toAvnship. The Sandbaek family also came during the summer of
1877. Fred Trepanier and CraAA'ford Blakely came in 1878.
Among the settlers of 1879 were Thomas T. SteA'ens, Captain Bat-
tersby and Dr. HoAvard Lancaster, all of Avhom located in the
southwest quarter of the township. Charles Cooper, Ebenezer
Smith, John Smith and B. F. Warren were settlers AA'ho came to
the township in 1880.
Robert Blakely was pretty well known during his residence in
the township, since he kept the postoffice of the community for
several years. He teamed through from Stearns county, Minn. ;
from Caledonia he followed the old halfbreed trail down the coun
try to where it then crossed the Turtle, a little below his place,
for the crossing four miles above seems to have been later, and
to have been made by white men. During the earlier part of his
residence in the county, he burned lime by collecting limestone
boAvlders. Later he was engaged in the same occupation on
Salt coulee, south of Ojata, from Avhich place he once took a
load of lime to Grand Forks, and having lost off the bur from
one of the wagon wheels, he Avalked beside that particular Avheel
so as to push it back on the axle Avhenever it showed any signs
of working off. This was characteristic of Blakely. Ultimately,
considering that the county was getting too croAvded to suit his
notions in regard to population, he emigrated to the Rocky
mountains. T. T. Stevens teamed through from St. Paul. In those times
the "Barnesville flats" in Minnesota Avas a notable locality for

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 601
the miring of teams during the spring by reason of the occasional
cutting of the wheels through the thin prairie sod and into a
sticky, whitish clay subsoil which resembled putty. Mr. Stevens
states that between Barnesville and Moorhead he had to unload
his wagon eighteen times in one day. He reached Grand Forks
about the middle of April, 1879, and while on his journey out to
Blakely 's place his team was mired seven times during the first
six miles in crossing the Red River flats.
In June, 1878, a party of seven men from Stearns and Kandi
yohi counties, in Minneosta, arrived at Grand Forks. They made
the journey with ox-teams, and brought along with them their
supplies and about fifty head of young stock. Learning on their
arrival that the Turtle river valley was not occupied above what
is uoav Mekinock township, and that it contained timber and a
pure running stream, they decided to locate in that part of the
county. Having chosen their respective claims, and erected log
cabins, they began the usual round of western pioneer life. The
land being in market in the central part of the county that year,
they filed on their claims together at Grand Forks. At this time
the United States land office was at Fargo, but filings could be
made at Grand Forks through authorized attorneys acting for the
Fargo office. Some of this party had families who came when
they did or soon afterward. These settlers were Henry A. Mor
gan, his brother, Newell C. Morgan, Crawford Blakely, Edwin
Collins, Oscar E. Clark, Dennis Kelley and Albert Murray.
All of these men, with the exception of Blakely, who settled
in Mekinock, located in the north part of Arvilla toAvnship and
were the original settlers of that township. Others who formed
part of the Turtle river contingent came later and at different
intervals. George Hughes and August Schiebe came in the fall of
1878, E. 0. Steelman in the spring of 1879, and John C. Morgan,
father of H. A. and N. C. Morgan, in 1880. In March of the latter
year, Frank Becker came and located near the "point of timber,"
about three-quarters of a mile east of the Hersey mansion. Edwin
Collins* was the original settler at the Hersey place, and built

* Collins removed to Nebraska about the year 1889, and in the fall of 1891
he was accidentally killed in the railroad yards at Omaha while employed there

as a switchman

602 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
his log cabin at the foot of the hill or at what is now called the
Hersey grove.
Hegton is one of the Turtle river townships and is situated
next north of Arvilla in Range 54. The township is twice bisected
by the stream with a major and a minor crossing of the same.
The first crossing of the township by the river is through its,
southwestern part, while the minor crossing of the same is made
by a diagonal bisection of school section 36 after the stream leaves
Arvilla township. A small stream called the south branch of
Turtle river flows for one and a half miles through the soutlnvest
part of the township to its confluence with the main stream in
Section 32.
The settlements on both streams in Hegton township were
mostly made during the year 1879. George D. Leavitt came up
from Mitchell county, Iowa, in the fall of 1878 and made his selec
tion of land along the south branch. The next spring he settled
at Roach's grove, which was formerly called Leavitt 's grove. Joe
Carter, who was an Englishman by birth, came with Leavitt and
located farther down the stream. Austin Fisch, a German, who
was a hotel keeper from Grand Forks, took a claim near Leavitt 's
and built his log cabin down on the bottom land of the stream.
John Tholin, a Norwegian, and Edward Wheeler, an American,
settled near the confluence of the south branch with the main
stream. Above Tholin 's place along the main stream were located
August Aslagsen, August Molean, Ludvic Berggren and Axel An
derson, the latter having bought the right of a previous settler
named Nelson.
About the first of June, 1879, Thomas Christianson, H. E.
Hanson and three others arrived from Swift county, Minnesota,
the first two locating on the Turtle in the western part of the
township, while the others passed on to Bachelor's grove. Arne
Anderson and Gilbert Johnson came in the spring of 1880.
There is some extension of the timber along Turtle river into
the northeastern part of Elm Grove township. A few Norwegian
settlers came in 1880 and made their locations here, this being
the last of the timber on the stream that had until that year re
mained unoccupied. These settlers, who were the first to locate

jh£/?7^a4 ~A^L*^&/~

GRAND FORKS COUNTY .603
in Elm Grove township, were Tollif Christianson, Christian Huset,
Mattis Gulickson, Ole Melland and Isaac Christianson. The cabin
of Melland having burned down, he took a prairie claim the next
year in another part of the toAvnship, Isaac Christianson occu
pying his former claim on the river.*
Bachelors Grove.
Bachelors grove is a large wedge-shaped body of timber on
the headstream of Turtle river, comprising about 300 acres. It
borders the stream for one and a half miles with an average
width of a quarter of a mile, and is mainly contained in Agnes
township, but it has a considerable extension up a coulee of the
hills and into Oakwood township. The east half of the grove, in
the Elk valley, is dense woods, chiefly of elm and basswood, with
much burr oak along its upper half. The stream here is frozen
up in winter and is so inconsequential that in the summer and
fall it is either dry or reduced merely to a trickling watercourse.
The residences of the present occupants of the land are situ
ated in and around this body of timber, together with the school-
house and church of the community. The schoolhouse is located
in the southeast quarter of Section 30, and the church, which is
Scandinavian Lutheran, in the southwest quarter of Section 29,
Agnes township, and north of the grove. The townline road be
tween Agnes and OakAvood cuts a swath through the midst of the
grove about sixty rods in length.
During the period under consideration, a large body of fine
timber like Bachelors grove would not have been apt to have
remained long unoccupied. Indeed, it appears that squatters
located there over a month before that part of the timber along
Turtle river in Arvilla township was taken, and perhaps over a
year before the portion of it in Hegton township was filed upon.
To the west of Hegton, Arvilla and Avon townships the land was
not opened to settlement until May, 1881, consequently anyone
locating upon either timber or prairie claims in that part of the
county prior to that date were of the squatter class of settlers.

* For settlers in Mekinock township, data furnished by T. T. Stevens ; for
Arvilla, Hegton, and Elm Grove the data was given during different years
by H. A. Morgan, H. E. Hanson, Thos. Christianson and others.

604 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
The earlier settlers of Bachelors grove were chiefly Scandina
vians, and they came at intervals from Iowa, Wisconsin and Min
nesota. First of all, there came in the month of April, 1878,
Gulick and Thomas Thomson, Peter L. Peterson, James Christian-
son, and with them a young man from Wisconsm who returned
there in about three months. At first this body of timber was
called Thomson's grove, from the Thomson brothers, but in the
fall of 1879, when W. N. Roach opened the mail route between
Grand Forks and Fort Totten, James H. Mathews, who accom
panied him, spoke of it as "the bachelor's grove," for the reason
that at that time only one man had his family with him, and this
designation of the locality passed into current use. In the spring
of 1879, Gulick Thomson sold his squatter's right to James Chris
tianson and removed to Forest river. Christianson later disposed
of his acquired right to William Postall. The latter in turn dis
posed of it to John Crawford and John Warnock in the fall of
1879. Christian Bang also became a settler at the grove that year.
Others came during the same year or that following. Of these,
Albert Wright, Cornelius Olson, Hans Olson and Ever Olson occu
pied that part of the grove that extends into Oakwood township.
In 1880 there came to the grove or to its vicinity, H. S. Han
son, William McLaren, Iver Gunderson, John Anderson, Bert
Gates, Edward Beardsley, John Pierson, M. S. Wallace and
George G. Beardsley, the latter a contractor for government sur
veys and originally from Ohio. These later settlers were squat
ters, but not all of them timber men, for here we refer to this
locality as a community. Those who came to the grove in 1878
passed three years here as squatters before they could make their
filings on their claims. The nearest market toAvn for all of the
grove settlers during the first two or three years was Grand
Forks, which is about forty miles distant. A trip to town and
back, if made with oxen, was then a three days' journey.
Settlers of Other Groves.
Elm grove, which gave the township in which it is located its
name, is a small body of timber containing about five acres sit
uated in the north part of Section 19. In 1880 a squatter had
built a log shack in the grove, but before the township was open-

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 605
ed to settlement, his right was purchased by T. 0. Edwards, who
subsequently acquired considerable land in its vicinity.
The first occupants of Niagara toAvnship were a few Scandina
vians avIio settled in a couple of isolated timber tracts bordering
coulees in the eastern part of the township. About two miles
south of Bachelors grove is Little Elm grove, a tract of about
ten acres, located in the east half of Section 12. Peter Hanson
located at this grove in 1879 and was probably the first settler of
the township. Andrew Hanson came here in 1880.
Up the coulee west of Elm grove there is a limited amount of
timber, this locality being called Whiskey creek, though there
is but little water in the coulee, except at the melting away of a
winter's accumulation of snow. The coulee forks about a mile
above Elm grove, both branches being crossed by the main line
of the Great Northern railroad, the larger fill being 52 feet high
at the center. Along this coulee there settled in 1880, Knute
Hilstadt, Ole Hanson, Ole Ringstad and Sever Peterson. Three
other settlers, S. Ness, Ole Moen and Arne Earness came there
in 1881. The Forest River Settlements.
Forest river is mainly confined to Walsh county but its upper
reaches intersect the north part of Strabane and Inkster town
ships in this county. It is only with that portion of the stream
in these townships that this narrative is specially concerned, for
along its banks we may confidently look for the location of the
first settlers of the northwestern part of the county. It should
be observed, however, that Forest river was known to the trap
pers, voyageurs, explorers and others, and even on our modern
maps, as the Big Salt, the change in the name occurring in 1878.
In that year the few setters in what is now Forest River town
ship of Walsh county, provided for mail delivery at a postoffice
located in that township and along the stream, by which their
mail was brought to them from a postoffice in Turtle River
township, distant about 18 miles, and at their own expense. It
should be understood that these country offices, even to present
times, are the residences of their respective postmasters, and in
settlement days the offices were apt to have been log cabins.

606 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Jesse B. Warren was postmaster for these settlers. The name
chosen for this office was "Forest River," which was soon applied
both to the township and the stream. This township formerly
included Johnstown in this county, Walsh county not then having
been created.
George T. Inkster was of Scotch parentage, born on Red River
at some distance below Winnipeg. His mother was a native of
the country, having some Indian blood, but was nearly white.
Prior to 1878 Inkster resided for awhile on Red Lake river near
the present village of Mallory. Late in the fall of that year he
removed to Forest river and settled in the township now bearing
his name, locating in Section 12 of the same. He was the first
settler of Inkster township and may be regarded as the father
of it. His nearest neighbors, for that year at least, appear to have
been located several miles down the stream. About 1882 he re
moved to McHenry county. The next settler Avas David Lemery
Avho came in the spring of 1879 and took a squatter's claim ad
joining Inkster 's on the west. Other settlers came during the
spring of 1880 ; these were William and Neil Mathie, Luther
Dodge, James S. Collins, A. Mclntyre and Clark Corey.
Strabane township is next east of Inkster, and one of those
Avhich border on the Walsh county line. The first settlers of this
township were James McDonald, John McDonald and W. H.
McDonald. James came first and was the first actual settler of
the township, having made his squatter's location in April, 1879,
and was soon followed by the other two of the McDonald brothers.
Other early settlers were Gillison Wager, Leonard Wager, Wil
liam Pitts, Henry Congram, William Hobbs, N. L. Elwain and
Jonathan Wager, Avho come in 1879. Nearly all of these men were
from Ontario; Pitts and his family emigrated from Wisconsin
and Elwain came from New York state.
There Avas a postoffice established at William Mathie 's place
in Inkster township in the spring of 1880, the mail being brought
once a week from Walshville. The Strabane settlers also es
tablished one in the fall of the same year, which was called Reno,
John McDonald being the postmaster. The mail was brought to
this office from the one in Inkster township. The Reno office was

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 607
maintained until 1884, or to the time that the railroad came
through that part of the county and Inkster village was started,
when it Avas discontinued.* Remarks on the Timber Settlers.
The life of the log cabin settlers of Traill, Grand Forks, Walsh
and other counties of eastern North Dakota differed considerably
from that of the present occupants of the soil who dwell in roomy
framed houses and who are never out of reach of the sound of
the whistle of the locomotive. Although this interval was com
paratively short, comprising only a few years in each section
that was thus represented, the significance of the phase of life
presented by the timber settlements lies in the fact that it was
the real pioneer period of the eastern portion of this state, ex
clusive of the northern boundary. While the period lasted, it
furnished much the same round of life as has been usual in the
west before the railroads came and ushered in a distinct phase
of civilization, closely corresponding, in fact, with the earlier,
but longer continued log cabin days of the older western states.
In the Red River tier of counties this period approximately com
prised the decade of the seventies but was far from beginning
and ending in each section contemporaneously, as has already
been instanced in the case of this county.
Usually the pioneer settlers of the middle western states have
been a restless and thriftless class, though there are many notable
exceptions; here, the most of them never retained their lands
but few years longer than the log cabin period itself lasted. There,
is a class of them who have ever preferred the rough and isolated
life of the frontier to the requirements and vexatious complica
tions of populous communities, disliking the prospect of being
merged with the agricultural population that later overruns the
country. There were many such located for awhile along the
timbered tributaries of Red River. As times changed, they one
by one either lost their claims through mortgages or disposed of
them to new comers and again faced toward the setting sun.
Again, there were others of the original timber settlers who

Mainly from data furnished by John McDonald, of Strabane township.

608 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
drifted to the new and growing towns and changed their occu
pation. The present framed houses and barns that have replaced
the original log cabins and stables of logs, poles and straw,
respectively, have generally been erected by later comers, though
this has not, of course, invariably been the case.
The Old Wagon Trails.
The three halfbreed, or cart trails that passed through the
county have been duly mentioned, but our purpose here will be
to speak of those that were struck out by the settlers using the
common farm wagon, in connection with the timber settlements,
and which were used during the continuance of that interval.
The old trails of the county, whether made by cart trains or farm
wagons, were the predecessors of the present section-line roads.
In regard to the county roads, four successive stages of develop
ment may be noted. First of all there came into use the old cart
trails of the long ago; second in order were the trails made and
used by the timber settlers and mail carriers; then there next
came into use the numerous trails of the prairie settlers, and
finally, the present roads Avere established which generally corre
spond with the section lines. The trails of the whites were at first
such as would result from the occasional passage in the same track
of the common farm wagon. After they became rutted by the
cutting of the sod by the narrow Avheel tires and treading of the
animals used for draught, a strip of grass about 2% feet in width-
remained between the ruts, and increased travel gradually wore
even this away. At this stage of development these routes ceased
to be trails and became beaten roads.
There was a trail leading from the northern outskirts of Grand
Forks that bore west-by-north across the valley plain to Robert
Blakeley's place in Mekinock, thence followed the prairie near
the timber along the south side of the Turtle river valley and it
terminated at what is now called Roach's grove. This early
roadway into the central part of the county was struck out in
the summer of 1878 by the Turtle river settlers. The reason of
their not taking a more direct course to Grank Forks was owing
to sloughy land in Chester township and danger of miring their
teams, while by keeping near the Turtle river valley a more

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 609
suitable and dry route was found. Two years later the direct
route through Ojata was taken.
There was another trail of those days that led from Grand
Forks across the south half of the county in a general southwest
ern direction to the Newberg and Northwood settlements. By
the year 1880 this early traveled way across the county had be
come a well beaten road, though much of the country through
which it passed Avas then unoccupied.
There was also a wagon trail of the later 'seventies, merely
rutted rather than worn, that passed through the western part
of the county near the hills. It followed the western side of the
Elk valley, farther inward than the old halfbreed trail. To the
Avest of Larimore its course lay about a mile inward from the base
of these uplands but it approached much nearer to them farther
north, and likely followed the halfbreed trail in places through
the northAvestern quarter of the county. It was an early line of
transient travel betAveen the settlements on the branches of the
Goose and those on Forest and Park rivers, and Avas mostly util
ized by persons Avho traveled in canvas coA'ered Avagons called
"prairie schooners," such as emigrants and other roving classes
commonly use. In those days the teams were generally oxen
for horses Avere then by no means plenty even in proportion to
the eomparatiA7ely scant population of the country.
These, with the Fort Totten trail and Red River stage road
formed the principal of the early traveled routes through the
county. As the prairie settlements developed, numerous tran
sient wagon trails of a local character were used for awhile, or
until the breaking up of the land for cultivation gradually forced
the most of them from the lands they crossed to the section lines.
As might be supposed, any kind of trail disregarded the section
lines even where, for aAvhile, as in the case of the prairie settler's
trails, they were used in surveyed parts of the county.
The Fort Totten Trail.
The military post at the Indian reservation on the south side
of Devils lake was established in 1867-8. The teaming of ma
terials and supplies to build Fort Totten was from St. Cloud by

610 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
way of Fort Abercrombie. When the Northern Pacific railroad
had been built west of Red River, and Jamestown was started, the
quartermaster's supplies and the goods furnished the Indians by
government were teamed from that place to the post until the
fall of 1879, after which the goods were delivered for awhile at
Grand Forks, and later at Ojata and Larimore. The mail for
the post came by way of Jamestown. As the railroad advanced
west from Grand Forks, the distance that the supplies destined
for Fort Totten and the reservation had to be transported by
teams, was shortened.
From Grand Forks out to Blakeley's the route corresponded
with the Turtle River trail. After crossing the stream by a ford
at this place, the route passed west to Hanson's in the western
part of Hegton township .where it again crossed the stream by a
shallow ford; thence bearing across Elm Grove township and
passing just to the north of Elm grove, it next crossed over the
uplands through the south part of Niagara township and then
passing between Smith's lakes in the northwestern part of Mo
raine toAvnship, it struck westward to Stump and Devils lakes
across what is now Nelson county.
Something of a survey for a wagon route between Port Totten
and Grand Porks was made by the military authorities about the
year 1877, but the route was not actually utilized until October,
1879, when the first of the caravans or wagon trains that came
to Grand Porks set out for that place. During that fall, W. N.
Roach, in later years United States senator for this state, Avas
residing in Grand Forks, having arrived there in September of
that year. Viets & McKelvey, of Grand Forks, had a contract
at that time to deliver certain supplies to the fort, and this cir
cumstance, together Avith the starting of the railroad from Fishers
Landing to Grand Porks, appears to have led to the establish
ment of a mail route between Grand Porks and Fort Totten. An
organization called the Overland Mail & Transportation Company,
with headquarters at Washington, were then the original con
tractors with the government for a large number of mail routes
in the west, and after some contest over the sub-contract, it was
awarded to Mr. Roach. He therefore proceeded to open a mail

GRAND FORKS COUNTY 611
and stage route through this county to the lake. The mail was to
be carried both Avays once a week.*
Mr. Roach started out on his first trip early in October, 1879,
and Avas accompanied by Jaines Ii. Mathews. At Smith's lakes,
near the west line of the county, they met the first wagon train
that came east from Port Totten and after passing them they saAV
no AA'hite men until the fort was reached. In crossing what is
now Nelson county, they kept their course by using a pocket
compass, taking route somewhat north of that which the In
dian caravan had just traveled. f Quite early in his mail and
stage business, Mr. Roach took steps to have three intermediate
postoffices established on the route. These were located at
Blakeley's in Mekinock, at Hanson's in Hegton and one at Stump
lake. In respect to the Hegton office, Mr. Roach had a conference
with the settlers at Bachelors grove and some of those on the
upper course of the Turtle; at his suggestion a petition to the
Postmaster General at Washington was drawn up and signed by
them, requesting that a postoffice be established in their neigh
borhood and that Hans E. Hanson be appointed postmaster. In
like manner Robert Blakeley became postmaster of the office in
Mekinock township.
Mr. Roach did not always go with the mail stage himself, but
occasionally employed others to make the weekly trips. During
the first winter the carriers sometimes had to rely on the dog-
sledge to get the mail through. A man named Smith kept the
mail station at Stump lake and a feAv other settlers were located
there, among whom was the old frontiersman, Francis de Molin.
In December, 1879, Warren Smith, a son of the station keeper,
was carrying the mail and he had with him as passengers a half
breed and a white man. They had three dogs in the train, but
lost the beaten track in a storm. They killed one dog for food
and one froze to death. They lay in a snowbank for about two
days but finally managed to reach Molin 's place, and staggering
from exhaustion one or more of them fell at his door. Here they
were kindly cared for until they could go on to Fort Totten.

* In part from statements of Hon. W. N. Boach.
t Of J. H. Mathews.

612 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
At Grand Forks the men were not heard from for some time and
were supposed to have perished until a letter arrived from the
fort that had been sent around by Avay of Jamestown and Fargo,
stating that the men were safe and that the route was impassably
blockaded with snow.
The Fort Totten trail was also traveled by the Indian car
avans that went to Grand Forks for goA7ernment supplies. The
government had furnished the Indians with good Avagons and
oxen. Sometimes as many as fifty teams, each with an Indian
driver, composed these supply trains. They traveled mostly in
warm weather, camping in canvas covered tepees at suitable
points on the route, and on these trips they were accompanied
by an agent who used a horse and buggy. Smaller parties of
the reserA-ation Indians occasionally passed back and forth over
this route in making visits to the Red Lake ChippeAvays in Minne
sota. A few of the old Red River carts and ponies were then still
to be seen with these bands.
Mr. Roach drove a good team of roadsters with a light two
seated wagon. Only an ordinary mail-bag Avas required. As
the trail developed a few local ones Avere made to branch off
from it leading to Forest river and Bachelors grove. At the time
that the main trail began to be forced upon the section lines in
consequence of the occupation and breaking of the land, that
portion of it between Grand Forks and the hill country had de-
A'eloped into a well beaten road. With the westward adArance of
the railroad, the mail was discontinued in 1882 and the Fort
Totten trail, as a distinctiA7e line of travel betAveen Grand Forks
and Stump and DeA7ils lakes, ceased to exist.
The old Red River trail, mail and stage route, though barely
more than mentioned in the sketches, stands first in importance
in relation to its historical bearings on the central part of the
A7alley ; the old Fort Totten trail, though brief in duration, stands
next in order of all these old traveled Avavs.

CHAPTER XXVII.
GRAND FORKS CITY.
When the first white men came to the northwest the Red and
Lake rivers were highways used by the Indians, and the "Forks,"
where they joined, was regarded as an important location. For
generations the site of the present city of Grand Porks was a
fur trading point, and a general rendezvous for both whites and
Indians. The old fur trading post disappeared, however, and
for many years there had been no sign of a human habitation
there. In 1868 Nicholas Hoffman and August Loon, who had
secured the contract for carrying the mail between Pembina and
Fort Abercrombie, built a log house for a stage station on the
west bank of the Red river, near the present home of Judge
Corliss. The following year Sanford C. Cady, another mail car
rier, built another log house near the site of the present munici
pal power plant. Mr. Cady induced the postoffice department
to establish a postoffice at Grand Porks, with himself as post
master, and he received his commission on June 15, 1870. This
was the official beginning of the city of Grand Porks.
In the winter of 1869-70 James J. Hill, who was taking an
active interest in northwestern transportation, made a trip to
Fort Garry by dog sledge, and as a result of his observations he
determined to develop the river traffic. Some freighting was
already being done on the river, but there were no steamers in
use on it. Mr. Hill interested with him Captain Alex Griggs, then
operating a steamboat on the Minnesota and upper Mississippi,
and the firm of Hill, Griggs & Company was formed. Captain
Griggs had lumber sawed at Frazee, Minnesota, and floated it to
McCauleyville, just across from Abercrombie, where J. S. McCau-
ley had established a small sawmill, and here the first Red river
613

614 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
steamer was built. It made several trips from McCauleyviUe to
Winnipeg in the summer of 1870, and in the fall of that year it
was caught at Grand Forks by the freezing of the river. The
freight from the barges was unloaded and sheltered by lumber
which was being carried north, and a man was left in charge
for the winter.
Captain Griggs, before returning to St. Paul, decided that
there was promise of the growth of a good town at Grand Forks,
and he proceeded to "squat" on a quarter section, starting the
construction of a log house in token of good faith. The land was
not yet surveyed. Howard Vaughn, his clerk and assistant, took
possession of another quarter section in the northern part of the
present city, and this was held for him by George Aker, who had
joined the party. Mr. Aker later acquired Vaughn's rights, and
filed on the claim in his own name. He has lived continuously
on the land since that time, though the farm has long since been
divided into building lots.
In 1871 a small sawmill was built and a store was started.
In 1872 Commodore N. W. Kittson, of the Hudson's Bay Com
pany, established a boat yard at Grand Forks and built a number
of boats, and in the following year, his company established at
the new town its headquarters for the upper Red River valley
and built there a large store and hotel. The hotel building has
been moved several times, but is still standing, and now forms
the southern section of the Arlington Park hotel.
Grand Forks county was organized in 1874. In 1875 the first
newspaper, the "Plaindealer, " was established by George H.
Walsh. It was discontinued in 1908. In 1875 the plat of the
original townsite of Grand Forks was filed by Captain Griggs.
The plat included ninety acres of the Griggs homestead. In 1877
the first flour mill in the valley, a fifty-barrel plant, was built
by Frank Viets. The building stood on South Third street near
the power plant, and was operated until about 1904 or 1905,
when it burned.
In 1878 a village organization Avas created Avith George H.
Walsh president, R. W. Cutts clerk, W. H. Brown, John McRae,
William Budge and Frank Viets trustees. In 1879 the second
neAvspaper, the "Herald," was established by George B. Winship.

GRAND FORKS CITY 615
In 1880 the Great Northern reached Grand Forks from the
east. In 1881 the city was incorporated Avith W. H. Brown as its
first mayor.
In 1909 the population of Grand Forks is between 12,000 and
13,000. The city owns its own waterAvorks plant, with filter,
pumping station and about 20 miles of mains; its street lighting
plant, with 120 arc lamps and a modern incandescent system
about to be installed in the business section ; a sewer system with
some eighteen miles of mains and laterals. The business section
and most of the residence section were paved in 1896 and the
years immediately following. Cedar block was the material used.
In 1908 the city began to repave with a permanent pavement
with a heavy concrete base and a wearing surface of creosoted
Avood blocks. In 1908 the first rails were laid on a street railway
system which is to cover the entire city. The state fair is held
at Grand Forks in odd numbered years, and in the even num
bered years there is held an independent fair which is very suc
cessful. The city fire department has a regular paid force of
twelve men and a large and well trained volunteer force, seven
horses, two modern buildings and abundant and excellent ap
paratus. The city has about twenty acres of parks, and negotia
tions are under way for the acquisition of nearly 200 acres of
additional park property. There are seven public school build
ings, accommodating 2,500 pupils and sixty instructors. The
State University, Avith its nine colleges and seventy instructors is
treated under a separate head. There are about twenty-five
churches, representing all of the principal denominations. Two
theatres, well built and modern, have each accommodations for
about 1,000 people, and there are several smaller places of en
tertainment. The city has fine Y. M. C. A., public library and
postoffice buildings. A conservatory of music and several private
instructors provide musical instruction, and the May music festi
val has become the musical event of the northwest. The city
has one of the finest bands in the northwest. There are many
jobbing houses, numerous factories of moderate size, and several
unusually fine retail establishments.

616 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Post Office History.
The first postmaster was Sanford E. Cady, who was appointed
in 1870. He was succeeded by 0. S. Freeman in 1872, and he
by Alex. Griggs in 1875. Captain Griggs served until 1879, when
Don. McDonald was appointed, he serving until 1888, when he
Avas succeeded by D. P. McLaurin, who was succeeded by J. P.
Bray in 1892. Mr. Bray only served a little over one year, when
he was succeeded by Willis A. Joy, and he in turn by William
Budge, and Mr. Budge by the present incumbent, Mrs. Minnie
L. Budge. The first post office was in the building known as the Hoffman
place on Northwestern Ave., now occupied by Dan Blue of the
police force as a residence. John Stewart kept the stage station
at that place, and acted as the deputy for Sanford Cady the
first postmaster. After the establishment of the Griggs, Walsh &
Co. store the post office was removed to that place. It has been
located at various places since then, the Hudson Bay Company
store formerly located Avhere the Union National bank now
stands, Lyons & Doheny store was the location during Captain
Griggs' term. It was removed from there by Postmaster Mc
Donald in 1879 to a building that then occupied the site of the
Barnes & Nuss store and from there the next year to the Gotzian
Block. In 1883 it was moved to the room now occupied by G. K.
Monroe on Kittson Ave. The Odd Fellows Block furnished
quarters for the few years preceding the removal to the present
Federal Building. Grand Forks City Schools.
The school system of the city of Grand Forks had its begin
ning in 1875, when Rev. William Curie, pastor of the Methodist
church, took charge of the education of a little group of children
in a small one-story building erected for that purpose. Five years
later a two-story building was built on the site now occupied by
the court house. This building, it was supposed, would answer
for many years, but the young city had outgrown it within two
years, and in 1882 the building was moved across the street to a

GRAND FORKS IN 1878, LOOKING NORTH

GRAND FORKS CITY 617
little triangle of ground, where it has since been used as a hotel.
This triangle is now the site of two of the relics of the early his
tory of the city, the old school building, and the old Hundon's
Bay hotel. The two are used jointly as a hotel.
In 1882 the first section of the present Central school building
was erected at a cost of $25,000. It contained eight rooms, and
was at that time the best school building in North Dakota. A
few years later the rapid growth of the southern part of the
city made school accommodations necessary there, and the first
section of the Belmont building was built. This was followed by
the Wilder school in the north, named in honor of W. L. Wilder,
for sixteen years a member of the board, and for many years
its president. The Winship school in the western part of the
city was built in 1903, and was named in honor of George B.
WTinship, and in 1906 the Washington school, two blo.cks north
of the Central, was erected. All of the school buildings of the
city today are accommodated on these five sites, but each of the
older buildings has been added to until its capacity is increased
many fold. In addition to new grade rooms there has been built
at the Central site a handsome high school building which is one
of the best appointed in the state. A site has also been purchased
for a building in the extreme southern part of the city which will
probably be built in 1910. The cash value of Grand Forks school
property has recently been appraised by an official board at over
$350,000, of which $250,000 is in buildings.
In 1879 there were 14 pupils and one teacher in the little
Grand Forks school. Today 2,500 children receive their instruc
tion in the public schools of the city, aside from those who are
educated at the University, Grand Forks College, St. Bernard's
A.cademy, the business colleges and other private institutions.
The present superintendent, J. Nelson Kelly, has had charge of
the schools for several years, and he is regarded as one of the
strongest men in educational work in the northwest. Under his
direction are employed sixty-four instructors. An effort has been
made, successfully, it is believed, to keep pace with advanced
educational thought, and at the same time to avoid those fads and
frills which waste both time and energy. Pupils removing from
Grand Forks are able to take up the work of their own grades

618 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY"
in the schools of any city on the continent, a fact which indicated
the thoroughness of the instruction Avhich they have been given.
Grand Forks Churches.
The Methodist church is the pioneer in religious work in
Grand Forks, the first services having been conducted by Rev.
John Webb, a pastor of that church, in 1873. He organized a
church and Sunday school, and started the movement for a church
building. The site for the structure was donated by Captain Alex
Griggs, OAvner of the townsite, and the business men contributed
liberally. This Avas years before prohibition in the northwest was
thought of, and the saloon keepers of the young town Avere as
liberal as any others in their contributions to church erection
funds. The Methodist building was completed in 1876, under the
pastorate of Rev. J. B. Sharkey. The present modern building
Avas erected in the early '90s.
Presbyterian church. The first services under the auspices of
the Presbyterian church were conducted in 1878 by Rev. F. W.
Iddings, who Avas sent to Grand Forks by the Board of Home
Missions of his church. In 1879 a permanent organization Avas
formed, and the first Presbyterian building was built. This has
been enlarged from time to time, and during the year 1910 it Avill
be replaced by a $60,000 edifice, funds for Avhich haA'e already
been raised.
The Catholic church made its entry into Grand Forks in 1877,
vdien Father Hubert gathered his first little congregation to
gether. A chapel was built in 1881, and in 1883 there was built
a fine brick church, at that time the largest in North Dakota.
This Avas Avrecked by a tornado in 1887, was rebuilt and improved
immediately, and was burned to the ground in 1907. In the fol
lowing year there was built a fine $80,000 building, Avhich is noAV
the home of the congregation.
St. Paul's parish of the Episcopal church was organized in
1879, with Rev. W. P. Law in charge. Temporary quarters Avere
used until 1881, when a small but pretty gothic building Avas built,
and this has been enlarged several times.
The Baptists organized their Grand Forks society in 18S1 and

GRAND FORKS CITY 619
built a small chapel the folloAving year. In 1890 a fine brick
church was built, and ten years later this was doubled in capacity
by the addition of a modern Sunday school building.
Zion Lutheran church was organized in 1880, and in 1883 a
small building was built. This was enlarged several times, and in
1908 the old building was moved, and in its place was built a
handsome structure costing about $50,000.
The German Evangelical society was organized in 1889. For
several years services were held in temporary quarters, but in
1897 the building which had been occupied by the Congregational
church was purchased and this has since been the home of the
German organization.
Christian Scientists. In 1890 the Christian Scientists organ
ized a society at Grand Forks, holding services for several years
in temporary quarters. In 1902 a fine brick church building was
erected, and the Scientists now have one of the most tasteful
buildings in the city.
Children of Israel. In 1888 the congregation of the Children
of Israel organized a Grand Forks society, and in 1893 the pres
ent synagogue was built. Rabbi Papermaister, organizer of the
congregation, is still in charge, and he ministers to about 100
families, his people being chiefly of Russian birth or descent.
Trinity Lutheran church was organized in 1883, and a neat
building was built in 1884.
The Norwegian Lutheran Synod church, organized in 1890,
erected its present building in 1903.
Other church organizations are the Church of God, organized
in 1894, Augsburg Swedish Lutheran, in 1896, Scandinavian
Methodist in 1884, Scandinavian Baptist, in 1896, German Luth
eran, and African Methodist. The Congregationalists organized
late in the '80s and built a church building. Later the services
were discontinued, and the building was sold, as has been stated,
to the German Evangelical society. In 1907 a new organization
was perfected, and services were resumed, but no building has
yet been erected.
The Y. M. C. A. is an important element in the religious and

620 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
social life of Grand Forks. The local society was established in
1892, with M. B. Van Vranken as general secretary. So evident
was the usefulness of the society, even with the limited accommo
dations which it had in rented quarters, that a movement was
started to provide a suitable building. A site was bought and
paid for with funds subscribed by the young men of the city,
and in 1904 a handsome new building, costing, with its equip
ment, over $50,000, every dollar of which had been subscribed by
Grand Porks people, was thrown open. In this building the
society has all the facilities of work possessed by the societies of
the larger cities. In the basement are the baths, swimming pool,
bowling alley and boys' workshops. On the main floor are the
offices, several class rooms, reading rooms, and gymnasium. On
the second floor are the parlors, more class rooms, etc., and the
third floor is arranged in suites and single rooms for rent to
young men. The people of Grand Forks have taken considerable
pride, and evidently with good reason, in the statement made
by officers of the general association that when this building was
built this was the only case in the history of the Y. M. C. A. in
which so fine a home had been built for the society in a city
comparable in size to Grand Forks without a burden of indebted
ness to start with, or without calling on outsiders for contribu
tions. Deaconess Hospital.
One of the grandest institutions in the northwest is the Grand
Forks Deaconess Hospital, and the noble work it is doing in the
cause of suffering humanity is certainly worthy of the highest
commendation. Such an enterprise is entitled to the hearty sup
port of the good people of the wide territory for which its service
is available. The Deaconess Hospital is the successor to St. Luke's
hospital. It occupies a commodious and substantial brick build
ing, designed expressly for hospital Avork, and costing with im
provements more than $25,000. The hospital is very conveniently
arranged and is equipped with everything in the way of appli
ances that experience and science show is desirable in a perfectly
appointed hospital. No contagious diseases are received, and

GRAND FORKS CITY 621
fever patients are entirely separated from other portions of the
hospital. Patients are treated either in the very completely
equipped wards or in private rooms, as is desired.
The Grand Forks Deaconess Hospital is a corporation inde
pendent of any other organization. The members of the corpora
tion, as well as the sisters having charge of the hospital, are
professed Christians and members of the Evangelical Lutheran
church. Patients of any nationality and, creed are received and im
partially treated at the hospital; they are allowed to choose any
doctor they prefer.
Any physician of good standing is welcome to the accommo
dations of the hospital for his patients.
Ministers of all denominations are cordially invited to visit
the patients belonging to their denominations and attend to their
spiritual welfare.
The corporation has no capital stock and is not organized with
a view of profit. It is maintained by voluntary contributions, fees
paid by patients and by testamentary devise which it is allowed
to receive. There is also a charity fund which is used in the case
of patients too poor to provide for their own expense.
Grand Forks Manufacturers.
None of the cities in the prairie northwest are manufacturing
cities. Grand Forks, in common with the others, is a commercial
rather than an industrial center. Nevertheless it has manufactur
ing enterprises of considerable importance, and these are growing
in both size and number. In volume of business handled the Red
River Valley Brick Company is the most important in the city,
and one of the most important in the state. Brick has been
manufactured at this point almost from the time of the early
settlers, as there is an abundance of good brick clay which is
easy to reach, and in the early days wood for burning was
abundant all along the river. Then came the installation of power
plants and modern methods, and several large yards were estab
lished under separate management. The first step in the direction
of consolidation was in the organization of an association which

622 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY^
bought at a stated price all the brick manufactured by the local
yards and sold them to customers. This association was made
up of the owners of the four yards then in operation and it had
nothing to do with the management of the yards. Then came
the organization of the present corporation, which owns the four
yards and handles the entire business of production and distri
bution. This company in 1908 manufactured over 60 per cent
of all the brick used in the state of North Dakota. It makes a
large line of drain tile, and has installed machinery for the manu
facture of hollow brick. It now obtains its fuel supply from the
northern Minnesota forests, and there it owns its OAvn timber
lands, maintains its own camps and cuts its own timber.
While the brick business is the largest in bulk carried on in
Grand Porks, it is surpassed by that done by the Grand Forks
Lumber Company in East Grand Forks, which, for industrial
purposes, is a part of the same city. Owing to the facility with
which logs could be floated down the river, and to the fact that
it was located in the heart of a vast lumber consuming territory,
Grand Forks, though distant from pine timber, has always been
an important lumbering point. T. B. Walker, of Minneapolis,
built on the Red River a mill which, for those days, was a large
one, and operated it for several years. The mill eventually
burned. A little later R. H. McCoy and associates organized the
Grand Forks Lumber Company and built a modern mill on the
Red Lake river. This was burned and the present structure was
built to replace it. The company saws 40,000,000 feet of lumber a
year, and employs a big force of men.
The Grand Forks Foundry manufactures wind stackers and
other special lines, and does structural work Avhich is used in
buildings all over the state.
The Grand Forks Broom Factory turns out a product which
is carried by the merchants all over the territory.
The Congress Candy Factory has employed 50 hands and
turned out a corresponding quantity of goods from a plant located
in a modern building. The building burned in the early winter
of 1908, and a new one of about twice its size and capacity is
being built.
The Golden Grain Biscuit Company is another institution that

GRAND FORKS CITY 623
suffered by fire. It has employed 50 hands or more, but a fire
put a stop to its operations for a time. The building was repaired
and enlarged, and is again in operation with a full force.
The Diamond mill has for years turned out 500 barrels per day
of a brand of flour that has become famous.
The Grand Forks Herald employs about fifty persons in its
manufacturing department and turns out a big line of blanks,
books and other goods of this class. In the same line is the
Grand Porks Times, more recently established, and also doing
a good business, and George A. Wheeler & Company turn out
considerable printed work as well.
Building blocks, tile and other articles made of cement are
turned out in large quantities by half a dozen firms.
The Turner Sash and Door Factory supplies mill work for
the city and a large tributary territory.
The sheet metal industry is another which gives employment
to a large number of well paid workmen.
Hotels and Early Boarding Houses.
It is altogether certain that the first house for the accommoda
tion of the traveling public stood where Judge Corliss ' house now
stands. It was erected in 1872 by John Stewart, and was one of
the stations on the Fargo, Pembina line of stage coaches. During
this same year, but a little later, S. B. Andrews ran a hotel at 211
South Third street where the Advance Thresher Company's
building noAV stands. A boarding house kept by John Fadden,
who came to the place in the summer of 1872, stood near where
the creamery now is on Third avenue.
In 1874, the Hotel Arlington was built on grounds now covered
by the two drug stores on the southwest corner of Demers avenue
and Third street. It was then known as the Northwestern Hotel,
and was built in the spring of 1874.
The Park House stood where the jail now stands, and was
built in the winter of 1874 and 1875, by William A. Rear, who
also moved it to its present location in 1882. The Selkirk House
was built about the year 1880.
The Hotel Dacota stands on grounds once occupied by a hotel

624 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
built by a syndicate, and run by John Dow. It burned down and
the present large structure was built in 1898. It is 125x125 and
has two hundred rooms, and is one of the largest and best
equipped hotels in the state. It is owned by Jerry D. Bacon.
The Ingalls. The second hotel in Grand Forks was built by
Captain Hugh Maloney in 1878, and called the Mansard House.
It stands on the corner of Demers avenue and Fourth street and
was rented to Colonel Ingalls in 1883, who changed the name to
that of his own. Although he was in charge of the house but a
few years, the name has been permitted to stand as it is. The
property and its business has been in the possession of Mrs. Mary
Maloney since the death of her husband some ten years ago.
Charles Maloney, son of Captain Hugh and Mary (Smith)
Maloney, was born in this house, June 19, 1875, was the first white
male child born in Grand Forks.
The Ingalls, now one of the historic land marks of Grand
Forks, has been thoroughly refitted for the better accommodation
of its patrons. It is a large three store building, having besides
offices and other rooms forty-five well furnished sleeping apart
ments, and which with gas, bath, hot and cold water, and with
its central location for business purposes, makes it a desirable
place for a public house.
Captain Hugh Maloney was a seaman at the time of his en
gagement with Miss Mary Smith, now Mrs. Maloney. He was in
charge of a boat on the lake plying between Milwaukee and
Chicago. Mrs. Maloney is of German descent. She was reared
near the border line between France and Germany, but early in
life was brought to this country by her parents, who located near
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was married to Captain Maloney
July 12, 1867, at Hancock, Michigan, and they came to Grand
Porks in 1874, although he had been here steamboating on the
Red River since 1872. He died June 16, 1897. One son and two
daughters were born to this union.
Frederick Hotel — Formerly the Antlers.
This hotel has done its part in giving the city a reputation
for the traveling public in the commercial line.

GRAND FORKS CITY 625
The building is a fiA7e-story structure 50x100 feet, having large
halls, commodious dining rooms, and a good basement addition,
etc. It is run strictly on the European plan. It was erected by
John S. Bartholomew in 1899, and first occupied by McGowan
Brothers. They were followed by Prescott & Freeman, then J.
J. Freeman, and he by Mr. Thomas E. Burke. Mr. J. J. Free
man of Prescott & Freeman, met with a fatal accident in the
hotel elevator. His inquest, by Judge McLoughlan, acting as
coroner, was held August 21st, 1905. Mr. Freeman's widow sold
to Mr. Burke, the former proprietor of the Columbia Hotel at
Langdon. In 1907 Frederick Bartholomew, son of the builder, took
charge and changed the name of the hotel to The Frederick, and
he is now in charge.
The Arlington-Park Hotel. This hotel comprises that of the
Park House and the Arlington Hotel which were joined into one
in 1900 and called the Arlington-Park Hotel, situated on Fifth
street and Bruce avenue.
The Arlington was built on the corner of Third street and
Demers avenue in 1876. In 1883 it was moved to the corner of
Third street and International avenue and a third story added.
In 1900 it was moved to the head of Bruce avenue and Fifth street
and connected with the Park Hotel run by A. Knudson, and
stands on block number (1) of Traill's Addition, occupying the
whole block.
The Park Hotel was the first school house in Grand Forks.
It was moved from the southeast corner of the present court house
grounds in 1882 to the present site.
The Arlington-Park Hotel is doing a thriving business, its
seventy-five bedrooms being kept in almost constant use. The
house is steam heated and has all modern improvements.
Mr. A. Knudson, the proprietor, came to Grand Forks in 1882
from Faribault, Minn. He ran the Arlington when it was on
Third street, and moved in 1900 to where they both now stand.
In June, 1906, he purchased the property.
Hotel Northern was built by Martin L. Gordon in 1889 and
run under his management for two years under the name of
"Hotel Gordon."

626 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
In 1892 the house passed into the hands of Trepanier & Got-
sian and was leased to Colonel C. B. Ingalls, who refurnished the
house complete and named it the Hotel Northern. Under the
popular management of Colonel Ingalls the house Avon Avide and
favorable reputation as a strictly first class hotel.
The present owner and proprietor, Herbert N. Wells, pur
chased the furniture of the Ingalls estate in October, 1893, and
bought the real estate in 1901.
The Hotel Northern is a brick building, three stories and
basement. Has gas and electric lights, steam heat and baths, is
conveniently situated for business and just across the street from
the proposed site of the Union depot.
Mr. Wells is a native of Faribault, Minn., came to Crookston
in August, 1881, removing to Grand Forks in 1884, has been in
the hotel business for more than twenty-five years.
Rasmussen, Bemis & Company. This company has the only
wholesale dry goods notion house this side of Minneapolis. The
business Avas originated by Mr. M. Rasmussen, Avho started a
general retail store at Inkster in 1884. He carried on there until
1905 when his removal to Grand Forks occurred, in order to
establish a wholesale trade and where commodious quarters were
found at 122-124 North Third street of that city. They are now
located on two floors, each 50x120 feet, but prospects are bright
for the building of a large store of their oAvn to meet their de
mands of the near future.
The incorporation of the company took place in 1906, M. Ras
mussen, President ; V. E. Bemis, Vice President ; J. C. Rasmussen,
Secretary and Treasurer.
Mr. M. Rasmussen is a native of Denmark. He came to North
Dakota in 1883, and took up his residence in Inkster, where he
and his wife, Mrs. Mary Ann (Barry) Rasmussen, are knoAvn as
ardent supporters of the Congregational church, and Avhere Mr.
Rasmussen was treasurer and otherwise officially connected with
that society. He is a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the
Mystic Shrine of El Zagal Temple, Pargo, N. D.
Merchants Transfer Company. This business was established
by W. T. Sheppard about the year 1894. He Avas one of the

GRAND FORKS CITY 627
original settlers of the place and is now in the storage business
on Sixth street.
Originally, the business supported but eight horses, a couple
of hacks and one or two drays, but now that number has been
about doubled.
Mr. Sheppard sold to Barton and Parsons in 1902 and in 1905
the dissolution of that partnership took place and Mr. Fred Par
sons ran the business until 1907, when the Thompson Brothers,
consisting of Joseph G., William and Walter Thompson, took the
management. Mr. Joseph Thompson has been in the transfer business for
many years. His father, W. H. Thompson, came to the state as
early as 1880 and was engaged for a time on the drainage of
Park river.
The business now supports four drays, a baggage wagon, two
hacks and fourteen horses.
Notes on Chief of Police of Grand Forks. J. W. Lowe,
present Chief of Police of Grand Forks, was formerly a saloon
keeper in East Grand Forks. In the year 1900 he became patrol
man and in 1904 was appointed chief. He is supported by nine
policemen and Grand Forks is, probably, one of the best governed
cities under police protection in the northwest.
The above statement is based on the fact that the system of
police protection in Grand Forks has always been under the
superintendence of men who, knowing how to apprehend crimi
nals before they had time to commit wrong, have saved the city
from their evil ways and misdoings.
During Mr. Lowe's career but 226 arrests were made in
1903 ; 282 in 1904 ; 285 in 1905 ; 263 in 1906 and to March, 1907,
but 254.
The small number of arrests has been due largely to the
efficiency of a judge who knew how to award criminals with long
terms of imprisonment when found guilty, and to a system of
police espionage which prevented crime by apprehending the
criminal before he committed lawlessness.
The Red River Valley Marble Works, Grand Forks, N. D.
This business was started by Andrew Nelson in 1889. He was

628 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
succeeded by John Andrew Nelson in 1892, and in 1898 Rime
Jeffrey, the present owner, became a partner, and in 1903, the
sole owner.
Mr. Jeffrey came from Huron county, Canada, to this place
when fourteen years of age and first Avorked at railroading.
Afterwards he became a farmer and began buying and selling
lands. Mr. Jeffrey deals in Italian, St. Cloud granite and different
stones from Vermont and the east. His trade is mostly local but
he has put up monuments as far east as Minneapolis and as far
west as Seattle.
The Fire Department. August H. Runge, Chief of the Grand
Forks Fire Department, took office in May, 1904. He was in the
United States Navy during the latter part of the Civil War and
came to Grand Forks from Minneapolis where he had an experi
ence in the fire department of that city from May, 1883, till he
became chief here.
Mr. Runge was appointed by Mayor Duis and succeeded
Charles Munsey, who had been in the department several years.
At the present time the department has one combination chemical
and hose wagon, an extra wagon, and every equipment belong
ing to their new building necessary for quick and effective serv
ice. The new building was erected in 1895.
The system has thirty fire alarm boxes, a hydrant at every
block, besides fifty-five six-inch hydrants and eighty-two four-
inch, making a total of 137 hydrants in all.
Water Works. Under the present system for supplying the
city of Grand Porks water for daily use it is obtained as free
from impurities and as good as can be found anywhere.
The plant was built in 1885. Prank W. Whitbeck was super
intendent at that time. He was succeeded by Hue Ryan and fol
lowing him came John Budge, then John Lunseth, the present
superintendent. With the exception of a term of six years under W. A. Satter-
field, A. J. Roddy has been Chief of Engineers. He came to Grand
Forks in 1879 as engineer on one of the Red River boats. He
took office under Mayor Holmes by appointment in 1887. Mr.

GRAND FORKS CITY 629
Lunseth, the superintendent, took office in May, 1904. He came
to Grand Forks June 27, 1887. He was in the employ of the
Grand Forks Electric Company for fourteen years.
The capacity of the water works is 7,500,000 gallons daily,
but only about 700,000 gallons of water, at most, are used. The
filter will hold 1,000,000 gallons. The water is obtained from the
Red Lake river. It is tested by chemists of tne State University
every month, and results of the test are published in the
"Herald." County Auditors — Grand Forks County, North Dakota. James
Elton was appointed Register of Deeds and County Auditor when
the county was organized. D. M. Holmes Avas elected to that office
in the fall of 1875. He resigned in February, 1876, and W. G.
Woodruff was appointed to fill the vacancy. D. M. Holmes was
again elected in the fall of 1876 and was succeeded by Thomas
Walsh in 1878.
The office of county auditor, proper, was first filled by the
appointment of John P. Bray, who took office in 1881, and was
elected to <the same position in 1882, 1884 and 1886 ; W. J. Ander
son, 1888 and 1900 ; J. W. Scott, 1892, 1898 ; William Ackerman,
1902, 1904; he died May 16, 1905, and his unexpired term was
filled by Hans Anderson, who was elected in November, 1906, and
is still in office. Drug Stores — By Dr. W. F. Harlan.
There are several drug stores in Grand Forks handling
preparations of the higher grade, and to a small extent a little
manufacturing is done; but in the main the pharmaceutical
products are supplies furnished for the trade.
The drug trade in Grand Forks had its origin from an acci
dent. Incident to the conditions of the early settlement of this
place, medicines, of a necessity, were hard to get. Dr. G. W.
Haxton, a pioneer physician of Grand Forks, had ordered $100
worth of drugs but being without money for express and original
cost, the financial necessity devolved upon Mr. David M. Holmes,
who, rather than have his neighbors suffer for want of proper
medical remedies, took it upon himself to secure possession of the
goods. That was in 1877.

630 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Mr. Holmes, now desirous of securing himself against loss,
arranged the medicine bottles on shelves around him in the office
of the North Western Telegraph Company while in their employ
as telegraph operator. As time progressed the business increased
and that was the origin of the drug trade in Grand Forks.
Mr. Holmes had been in his father's store, knew the business
to some extent, and haA-ing added to his stock from time to time
finally moved across the street into a room where the billiard
hall noAV stands and that is the place AA7here the first store in the
drug trade was located.
In the winter of 1879 Mr. Holmes sold to George Budge and
subsequently started the second store on the grounds now occu
pied by Lashani's jewelry rooms at No. 12 South Third street.
In 1881 he bought the place Avhere Fegan's cigar store is — 16
South Third street — and remained there till 1883, when he sold
out to C. P. Trepanier, Avho afterwards built the Trepanier
Pharmacy. The third store was then started by Mr. Holmes, the place
selected this time being Avhere the Walker Theater now is, but
in 1885 he moved back into the Fegan building.
In 1883 Mr. Holmes took Mr. F. W. Schlaberg in with him,
but in 1888 sold out all interests in the business to his partner
and quit.
Mr. Trepanier erected the Trepanier Pharmacy in 1884 and in
1889 he formed a partnership Avith A. I. Widlund, who bought
up all interests in the partnership in 1901 and is still running
the store. Mr. Widlund is a native of Sweden and is the Vice
Consul of that country, to which office he Avas appointed July 22,
1906. In 1885 he emigrated to this state and for a period of four
years performed the practical duties of a druggist for J. M.
Moore of Hillsboro, and then Avent to Grafton, where he remained
in the business until he came to Grand Forks.
Dr. W. F. Harlan Avas born in the county of Wetzel. West
Virginia, November 12, 1875. His father aves a carpenter and
blacksmith, residing on a farm Avhile raising his family. The boy
hood days of Dr. Harlan Avere spent on this farm, his time being
divided betAveen hard work and going to school. During the

^hy^^h^x^

GRAND FORKS CITY 631
summer months the farm and the carpenter and blacksmith shop
demanded his time, and it was there that he developed both mind
and muscle, laboring persistently that he might attend school
winters until he had acquired a common school education.
In September, 1901, he entered the American School of
Osteopathy, at Kirksville, Mo., for the study of his chosen pro
fession, graduating at the end of three years' hard work with
many praises for faithfulness and excellent work during his col
lege career, as well as for the few wonderful cures which he
performed while there. His graduation took place June 23, 1904.
He came directly to Grand Porks, N. D., arriving on June 27. On
the 1st day of July he opened his office, entering upon a broad
and successful practice.
The Union Commercial College and School of Telegraphy.
The educational history of the Red River valley, especially the
commercial educational history, would not be complete did it not
contain a mention of the Union Commercial College and School
of Telegraphy, Grand Porks, N. D.
This school Avas started by Messrs.- Thacker and Hughes in
June, 1903. It secured rooms in the Security block and. started
with but two teachers, the present proprietors, G. F. Thacker and
Robert Hughes. Both these gentlemen had had long experience in
commercial college work and were well qualified to build up a
good school. The venture was a success from the start. Com
mercial education had come to be recognized as vitally essential
to the welfare and success of the rising generation and to no class
did it appeal more than to the farmers.
At first there were four departments: Bookkeeping, Stenog
raphic, Banking and English. These departments are equipped
with all the latest devices, and a special feature of the Book
keeping department is the system of Actual Business and Office
Practice. The latest methods are also used in the Stenographic
department, and it is hqre that Touch Typewriting is taught.
In the fall of 1907 a telegraph department was added. This
department is equipped Avith all the modern devices and through
the courtesy of the Great Northern Railroad Company, it has the
main line wire of that road running into its rooms. The managing

632 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
officers of the road inspected the department after it Avas in
stalled and were so well pleased with the arrangement, the course
of study, and the instructors in charge, that they gave the school
a written guarantee to place every one of its young men graduates
in positions. From a small beginning with but two teachers, and small
rooms, it now employs seven regular teachers and occupies
magnificent quarters in the Security block in the heart of the
business section of Grand Porks. With its numerous class rooms,
study rooms, offices, etc., it is fully prepared to meet the wants
of those interested in business education.
The Berg Studio. One of the first, if not the first, photo
graphic galleries in Grand Forks was where Benner, Beggs and
GarA-ans store noAV stands. Mr. Jacob Berg came to the place
in 1881. His first gallery was on Bruce avenue where a black
smith shop now stands and he remained there until 1890, when
he built the substantial house where the gallery has since re
mained. He was a successful artist having learned the intricacies
of the business in Minneapolis before coming to Grand Forks.
Mr. Berg was a Norwegian. He came to this country Avhen a
boy, locating in Minnesota, first on a farm where he received his
early education. He was married to Miss Christine Langdon on
December 7, 1881. Her parents lived then in Columbia county,
Minnesota. Mr. Berg died November 22, 1898. Their children
are Bertha Amanda, Ella, Ethel, Jacob and Anthon.
The Grand Forks Bottling Works. In 1882 Mr. H. 0. Krueger
established the first Bottling Works in Grand Forks. He erected
the building noAV standing on North Seventh street and noAV
owned by 0. J. Bostrom and John Engebretson and to whom he
sold his interests in 1904.
Mr. 0. J. Bostrom, the head of the new firm, is a native of
Sweden. Mr. John Engebretson is from NorAvay. Mr. Bostrom
came with his parents to this country and lived, first on a farm
in Minnesota. In 1887 he came to Grand Forks.
The firm manufacture and bottle all kinds of soft drinks :
cider, pop, root beer, principally. They have a large Avholesale
trade.

GRAND FORKS CITY 633
The M. Rumley Company was founded by Meinrad Rumley,
who emigrated to the United States from Baden in 1849. He
purchased a small horse-shoeing shop in the city of Laporte, Ind.,
and manufactured some ice machinery and corn shellers and
later, in 1853, began to build small separators and horse-powers.
A few years later the manufacture of small engines was begun.
The business has groAvn uninterruptedly and now extends over
all the Central and Northwestern states. Their branch house at
Grand Forks Avas erected in the spring of 1906. Extensive im
provements which will greatly increase the capacity of the home
plant are in progress at present, and under the superintendency
of H. P. Kane, the North Dakota division of their work is making
great progress.
The officers of the company are William N. Rumely, President ;
A. J. Rumely, Vice President; Joseph J. Rumely, Secretary and
Treasurer. Branch houses are owned and located at the following places :
Fond du Lac, Wis. ; Toledo, 0. ; St. Louis, Mo. ; Des Moines, Iowa;
Indianapolis, Ind. ; Logansport, Ind. ; Lincoln, Neb. ; Kansas City,
Mo. ; Minneapolis, Minn. ; Grand Forks, N. D. ; Wichita, Kas. ;
El Reno, Okla.
Duluth Elevator Company. This company owns and operates
about one hundred eleArators in the states of the Northwest. They
now operate forty-five in the Red River valley, thirty-two of
which are on the North Dakota side. The first one of this line
was erected in 1879. It was built by the Brooks Brothers Com
pany, but now belongs to the Northern Division of the Duluth
Elevator Company. At the present time, it is the only elevator
aside from those owned by the Russell-Miller Milling Company
at Grand Forks. Mr. W. H. Ryan was superintendent of this
elevator from 1883 to 1906. He is now superintendent of the
Northern Division, thirty-five in number, in the Red River valley.
The capacity of these several elevators is about 50,000 bushels
each. Mr. Ryan came to Grand Porks in 1882.
The Studio of George F. Blackburn. On the 22nd day of
March, 1882, Mr. George F. Blackburn came to Grand Forks.
This was the year of many new arrivals. He is a native of Lanark,

634 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Canada, where he Avas born in 1853. When seventeen years of age
he began his professional career which has brought him fame and
a substantial income. The years between 1870 and 1876, were
spent in photographic work at Perth, but having a desire to pre
pare himself thoroughly for his chosen profession he went to
Rochester, New York, and for a term of four years remained in
one of the best galleries in the East. After a visit to his people
in Canada, he then came to Grand Forks, where he pursued his
business for a quarter of a century; and his gallery has always
given evidence of the work of a first class artist. A visit to his
studio and picture galleries would show that most of the people
of the valley have \7isited his place.
Mr. Blackburn is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He
belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and Order of Free Masons,
but his time and attention have ahvays been strictly devoted to
the art of photography of which he has been a close student.
He has recently acquired land interests in Oregon.
His wife was Miss Amelia Schraeder of Rochester, Minn.
They have a son, George F. Blackburn, Jr.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE CITY OF LARIMORE.
By
H. V. Arnold.
The city of Larimore is located nearly centrally in western
Grand Forks county, twenty-eight miles west from Grand Forks,
about thirty-five miles north from Mayville and Portland, and
about seventy-five miles south of the Canadian boundary. The
city stands upon ground nearly level or near the eastern side of
an extensive tract which is a glacially formed delta of the ancient
Lake Agassiz. Coming" up from Grand Forks, the slope of the
western side of the Red River valley rises a little over three
hundred feet to the townsite, 1134 feet above sea level, then after
passing westward about four miles across the level tract men
tioned and to the western verge of the Red River valley, another
ascent of three hundred or more feet is attained at the upland
prairie level, two to three miles back from the border of the
valley. The soil of the delta tract is a rich, dark sandy loam, free
from stone because it is a fine sedimentary deposit about sixty feet
in depth, the lower forty feet consisting of a quicksand saturated
with an abundance of very pure water, easily reached by either
dug or driven wells. This place is on the main line of the Great
Northern Railway, while another line of the same system to
Minneapolis and St. Paul diverges from the other at this point,
passing southward by way of Wahpeton and Breckenridge, and
a branch extends northward to Hannah, ninety-eight miles from
Larimore. In 1879 the taking up of land for actual settlement had not
extended very far west from Grand Forks. There were no rail-
635

636 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
roads in the county and in general its agricultural development
had to await their construction. There was grading that year,
followed by track-laying, between Fisher and the Red River oppo
site Grand Forks, then in October the grading force were put to
work on a stretch of grade extending eleven miles west from the
latter place. A large number of newcomers into the country
were then located in Grand Porks, reinforced by new arrivals
coming in by railroad and quite generally these were awaiting
to see what prospects the immediate future would develop for
the county. Grand Forks was then a village of perhaps four or
five hundred inhabitants. The United States Land Office for the
district was then located at Fargo, but filings on land could be
made at Grand Forks through an attorney. Influenced by the
grading of the railroad west from Grand Forks, the land as far
as the line of range 55 west and for several miles north and south
of the proposed railroad, was quite generally filed upon by the
prospective settlers in October, 1879, yet no attempts were made
to occupy these claims until the following spring. West of range
54, on the Elk valley tract, the townships had not then been
subdivided, and so the filings stopped at the town line that now
runs north and south through Larimore.
Between the spring of 1878 and that of 1880, what were
chiefly a transient class of settlers, had already occupied the
timber tracts on the streams and all isolated groves of jtimber in
the central and west part of the county. Where the land was
not in the market, yet contained some timber, such quarter-
sections were "taken by squatters who built log cabins and awaited
for the government survey to correctly establish their corners.
These timber settlers, who avoided the more valuable prairie
land, inaugurated in the interior of the Red River tier of counties
a phase of life that might be called their "log cabin days," yet
this period was comparatively short in the valley, soon being
blended into the life of the agricultural stage. The line of Turtle
river, Bachelors grove and some smaller blocks of timber within
ten miles of Larimore were settled in the manner described and
during the years mentioned. In October, 1879, a mail route on
which a weekly stage was driven, was established between Grand

THE CITY OF LARIMORE 637
Forks and Fort Totten. Its intermediate stations were the log
cabins of settlers, to-wit, Robert Blakeley's in Mekinock; H. E.
Hanson's in Heyton, and Smith's at Stump lake.
ToAvard the end of May, 1880, E. C. Arnold, his brother, H. V.,
and son, H. F. Arnold, arrived at the Elk valley after teaming
through with oxen from Houston county, Minnesota, and estab
lished this settlement two miles west of the site of Larimore.
Mrs. Arnold and tAvo daughters arrived early in September, and
these became the first settlers in Larimore township, breaking
155 acres of the prairie land that season. H. F. Arnold spent the
winter following in Grand Forks, in^the office of clerk of court,
but the others remained in their cabin homes. In the same spring
of 1880 settlers began occupying, breaking and building upon
their claims in Arvilla and Avon townships, all supplies being
teamed from Grand Forks. Albert P. Clark of Clayton county,
Iowa, had rented a place that season on Turtle river, and having
selected a claim on the border of range 55, where Larimore now
stands, he broke twenty acres on it. Clark did not build upon
his claim that year, but about opposite its southeastern corner
there were standing at the time two claim shacks and a strip of
breaking owned by Gunder Anderson and A. B. Holt, both just
across the town line in what is now Arvilla township. The same
summer the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Company ironed
their short piece of grade west from Grand Porks as far as
Ojata. During the same season and fall, a party of government
surveyors in charge of James E. Dyke of Pembina county, sub
divided a number of townships in ranges 55 and 56. The sur
veying contract, however, was held by George G. Beardsley, who
was a native of Ohio, and he had other parties in the field that
season. Toward the end of winter a heavy snowfall accumulated in
the country and which lasted unbroken by thaw until about the
middle of April, and then disappeared suddenly with much flood
ing of the land. This opened the spring of 1881. Prospective set
tlers had appeared the previous fall and put up claim-shacks
in what is Larimore, Avon and Elm Grove townships, but none
of them attempted to pass the winter on their claims. In the

638 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
spring they again appeared, improved their buildings, and as
soon as the proper season opened they began breaking the prairie
sod. In some cases they brought their families with them. In
May the plats of the subdivided townships were returned and
accordingly the settlers made their filings, a United States land
office having been established at Grand Forks in April, 1880. It
was during this period of springtime occupation of lands in the
townships mentioned, that a beginning was made by several
St. Louis grain commission men in establishing the now extensive
Elk Valley farm, just south of the site of Larimore. A large
frame house, barns and sheds, and blacksmith shop were erected
that season and extensive breaking operations were commenced
on such lands as the company could then claim, and in charge of
the company's agent, Colonel Oscar M. Towner. All supplies
that season had to be teamed from Ojata and Grand Forks, and
much of the heavier portion of it was done in March while the
snoAV afforded good sledding. During the same month A. F.
Clark built a small frame house, the first framed building on the
townsite, on his claim and near where the present SAvain home
now stands.
Two general merchandise stores were opened in the vicinity
during the summer. Stevens Brothers established one on section
10, Arvilla township, on a claim owned by F. D. Hughes and
subsequently incorporated in what was known as the Hersey
farm. The other store Avas erected by Lucius P. Goodhue, who
in August, 1881, teamed his lumber and goods from Ojata, then
the nearest railroad point. About that time Currier and Clark,
the former a builder employed by the Elk Valley Farming Com
pany, established a small lumber yard on Clark's premises, to
supply local demand. In August, 1881, Larimore township was
organized with the inclusion of Moraine township (until 1884)
and named for John W. and N. G. Larimore of the Elk Valley
Farming Company. In the fall considerable threshing was done
in this section with horsepower machine, for the steam thresher
Avas not seen here until another season had come.
For a section without town or railroad, the spring, summer
and fall of 1881 was one of general activity, stimulated by the

NEWEL G. LARIMORE

THE CITlr OF LARIMORE 639
alluring prospects of the country and its productiveness; more
over, the railroad surveyor Avas in the field. As early as June
the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Company located a line
Avest from Ojata as far as Moraine township, which survey was
subsequently altered in places; the Northern Pacific Company,
which was then building a branch line north from Casselton, also
extended a survey north from Mayville through this section, and
north from the townsite the other company made a counter sur
vey. Grading Avas done the same year along portions of all of
these surveys, particularly between Ojata and the site of Lari
more. In October, 1881, Alexander Oldham, then the county surveyor,
was employed by the Elk Valley Farming Company to lay out
a town near where the grades of the railroad corporations crossed
one another, and upon the quarter-section in Larimore township,
which they had purchased about that time from A. F. Clark,
together with several adjoining quarters. Later a part of the
Anderson claim was likewise surveyed in blocks and lots. While
the townsite survey was in progress, Nicholas S. Nelson, of Grand
Forks, erected a building for a general merchandise store, where
the Elk Valley Bank now stands, and this was the first building
for mercantile purposes put up on the townsite. It was followed
by a number of hastily erected structures for various business
purposes. The railroad company ironed their grade that fall
between Ojata and Larimore, and the track reached Larimore on
the afternoon of November 22. At that time only a few buildings
had been completed and others were in process of construction.
Por over a week only the construction train came to the place,
but side track and turntable having been put in, a depot, engine-
house and section house begun, the finished section of the road
was opened to business December 1, 1881.
The first half of the winter following was comparatively mild
and open like some of those experienced in more recent years,
and the condition of the weather facilitated building. In Decem
ber, Stevens Brothers moved their store to the townsite and L.
P. Goodhue, who had been appointed postmaster of the place,
also moved in his store before the end of the same month. Two

640 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
papers were started before the warm season again opened, the
"Larimore Pioneer," W. M. Scott, editor, February 21, and the
"Larimore Leader," A. W. Dunn, editor, March 2, 1882. It was
understood at the time that the first named local enterprise was
in some way a protege of the ' ' Grand Forks Herald, ' ' the other of
the "Plaindealer" of that time. With a railroad terminus at
Larimore, all the common mercantile establishments and trade
concerns, including a bank, were rapidly instituted in the place.
The year 1882 is memorable for the great immigration into
the eastern portion of this state, which that year witnessed. This
was largely prompted by extensive advertising of the country
throughout other states, together with the facility that the Red
River valley could not be reached by railroads. In some measure
conditions in other states invited emigration to sections present
ing more alluring prospects. Hence the new settlers came by the
train load. The new towns in the valley shared in the brilliant
prospects then being unfolded to view, and in the spring and
early summer of 1882 Larimore built up rapidly. Colonel 0. M.
Towner, a natural townsite boomer, was entrusted for a while
with the sale of lots, and kneAV how to utilize all sorts of specious
arguments. Much of the earlier building operations were based upon mis
taken expectations. A published plat of the place represented it
as being quite a railroad center with the prospective depot and
roundhouse of the Casselton branch line located conveniently to
the north of Third street; hence the Swain and Sherman houses
were originally erected in that vicinity and that portion of Third
street now north of the city hall and public school blocks "became
lined with various business structures. The country west to
Devils Lake was now being overrun with settlers to a considerable
extent and so long as Larimore remained the railroad terminus,
its business prospects were fairly good. A great amount of team
ing of lumber and merchandise, household goods, farm machinery,
etc., was in progress in that direction and travel to Stump and
Devils lakes was being accommodated by a stage line. The month
of June found conditions as described, when a report that the
Casselton branch line on which some further grading had mean-

THE CITY OF LARIMORE 641
while been done, had been traded or sold to the St. Paul, Min
neapolis and Manitoba Company, checked further progressive
operations. The boom that was in progress at once collapsed and
business men began to think more of development upon such
natural advantages as were inherent to the country around them,
and less upon uncertain expectations.
Early on the morning of June 29 the town experienced a dis
astrous fire, mainly confined, however, to parts of both sides of
ToAvner avenue, which has always been the main business street
of Larimore. Some fifteen or more business places were de
stroyed, including three hotel buildings. Two unknown persons
perished in the fire. The loss was estimated at $55,000. The
burned area was, in the main, soon rebuilt, but not in all cases
with buildings as good as some of those that had been destroyed.
During that year the forming of church societies and a school
board received some attention. The first church service in the
place was held in a neAv store building on Sunday, April 30,
1882. Rev. S. N. Millard, a missionary of the American Sunday
School Union, preached to large audiences morning and evening,
and organized the same day a Union Sunday School with E. C. D.
Shortridge superintendent and which was maintained in that
form until 1887. On July 16, the Methodists gathered and formed
a class of nineteen, which Avas the beginning of this society here,
Rev. M. S. Kaufman of Grand Forks organizing the class. The
Presbyterian society of Larimore was organized on August 6 by
Rev. J. C. Cherryholmes and Rev. F. W. Iddings. Father Fortier
came from Grand Porks several times and arranged for the
gathering of a Roman Catholic Church Society, his first visit
being in March. The Presbyterians were the first society to erect
a church building in Larimore, its first location having been near
the northwest corner of block 68 on Third street. Some delay
was experienced in securing a new school district and choosing
a school board, but on Saturday evening, July 7, a meeting was
held and a school district organized by choosing W. M. Scott
director for one year, E. C. D. Shortridge clerk for two years,
and C. C. Wolcott member of the board and treasurer for three
years. The board did not think it advisable to endeavor to erect

642 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
a building that year, but rented a hall instead, which in the fall
was fitted up for a school room, George H. Stanton hired for
teacher, and the school opened on November 6. When the Christ
mas holiday season came, there having been as many as eighty
pupils enrolled, it became necessary to divide the school into
primary and grammar departments, James J. Dougherty teaching
the former. Prior to all this, in June and July, Mary J. Stoner,
daughter of a feed store merchant, had opened and taught a
small private school in a house occupied by her father on Third
street. Larimore remained the terminus of the railroad until Septem
ber, 1882, when the track began to be pushed on toward Devils
Lake, the grading of the line having been in progress during the
summer. Trains began running to Bartlett on December 15,
then, one month later, a storm blockaded the line west of Lari
more, which was not opened again until spring. The population
of Larimore in the summer was probably all of 800 inhabitants;
disappointed in the expectation of a competing line of railroad,
a few of the tradesmen closed out and moved on west. But it
was not until into the next year that the loss to the place of being
the terminal of the railroad began seriously to be felt.
A period of at least ten years' duration now ensued in Avhich
population decreased and changed, but on the whole the toAvn
made some material advancement. The usual business changes
Avent on from year to year, though a number of tradesmen Avho
had come in 1882 had concluded to remain here. The fact that
several large farms had become established near or Avithin a feAv
miles of town was particularly felt to be a decided detriment to
all kinds of business interests and to the growth of the place,
and so the chief thing to be hoped for Avas seen to depend upon
railroad patronage.
Early in January, 1883, a number of business men met and
discussed the question of organizing a city government for Lari
more, and this led to procuring a charter from the territorial
legislature. On March 15 the city officials who had been appointed
pro tern, were sworn in by Justice Shortridge and the city organi
zation was ratified by popular vote on June 5. W. N. Roach was

THE CITY OF LARIMORE 643
the first mayor, a position he held for several years. The city
was divided into three wards, one councilman to be chosen from
each. In 1883 most of the level land surrounding Larimore had
been brought under cultivation. In the fall arrangements were
made with LeistikoAV of Grafton and Anton Bettingen, his father-
in-law, to erect a first class roller mill at Larimore, the citizens
to subscribe a bonus amounting to $6,000. The mill was accord
ingly built the next year on the site now occupied by the present
mill. In 1883 the central building of the Larimore Public School
Avas erected at a cost of about $12,000. The same year the Elk
Valley Bank was opened (July 19) by A. W. Warren and W. A.
Smith in the building now called the Free Methodist Mission.
Steps were taken to organize a Masonic Lodge here the same year.
The building realty for 1883 amounted to $33,150.
In 1884 the place had two banks, seven general merchandise
stores, three hardware stores, three drug stores, two flour and
feed stores, nine hotels, five livery and feed stables, two lumber
yards, five farm machinery establishments, six licensed saloons,
two elevators, and other occupations, trades and professions in
proportion. The hotels of the time were called the SAvain, Sher
man, Flint, Union, Coleman, Windsor, Larimore, Merchants and
Commercial. The year 1884 was also marked in the history of this city by
through connection with Minneapolis and St. Paul by the com
pletion of the south line, a gap of 35 miles between Mayville and
Larimore being ironed that year, the grading having been done
in 1881 and 1882. The same year the north, or Hannah line, was
built as far as Park river. In July track-laying on both lines was
in progress at the same time. The Elk Valley Bank established
itself in a new building on the corner of Main street and Towner
avenue in the fall of that year. The Masonic Lodge thus far had
been working under a dispension, but a regular lodge was organ
ized and officers chosen July 9, 1884. The Larimore Fire Depart
ment was organized on December 11 of that year, and a band
called the Elk Valley Cornet Band during the fall.
As has been stated, a number of buildings had been located

644 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
upon sites in town under a wrong supposition in regard to rail
road matters. This state of things finally had to be readjusted
to actual conditions. There has ensued here more than the usual
number of removals of buildings for a place of its size. Both the
Swain and Sherman houses were moved to their present sites
from other locations, the first in 1885 and the other in 1888. A
number of new residences were being built in these years. St.
Stephens' Roman Catholic church was built in 1885. An Odd
Fellows Lodge was instituted in Larimore April 15, 1886, begin
ning with nine members. What was called the Dakota Division
of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba railroad was estab
lished here February 1, 1887, with C. H. Jenks, superintendent.
The division headquarters remained here until 1892 and were then
removed to Grand Porks for several years. The establishment of
the division here did not cause during the time it remained any
marked material changes in respect to railroad matters. The
present Methodist church building was erected in 1887 and has
been considerably improved since. Early Sunday morning, No
vember 20, 1887, occurred the second fire of Larimore that Avas of
special remembrance. Several stores, offices, etc., including First
National Bank building, in block 63, on Towner avenue, were
destroyed. A dozen or more firms and occupants of offices were
burned out involving a loss of over $20,000, partly covered by
insurance. In 1887 and 1888 what were called "tournaments" were held
at Larimore, horse races being the principal feature. An unen
closed race course was graded just northwest of town, the first
of the kind established here. The races and other sports were
largely attended, being held in the latter part of July. On March
16, 1888, the roller mill was burned down and was not replaced
again by the same firm. Thus far W. M. Scott had conducted the
local paper, "The Pioneer." Its rival called the "Leader," had
suspended publication near the close of 1884. Mr. Scott sold the
"Pioneer" to M. M. Miller, who took possession of the plant Sep
tember 1, 1888, and conducted the paper for tAvo years, when
it Avas bought by H. F. Arnold. The G. A. R. association held its
first meeting that fall.

THE CITY OF LARIMORE 643
Hitherto such political conventions as had been held at Lari
more had assembled in a large building on Third street that had
been erected for a roller-rink; Sunday school and minor conven
tions had assembled in the Presbyterian church and public school
building. The rink was torn down in 1889, and hence in 1890 a
movement was set on foot that led to the erection of the city hall
or opera house the same year. The building has since been used
for holding innumerable conventions, public meetings of various
kinds, and entertainments. In 1890 the population of Larimore
was given as only 553, but at the time the census was taken a
certain proportion of the inhabitants were absent upon farms
and of course were credited to the townships in which they were
living. In 1893 the town began advancing again, though the large
farms immediately surrounding it or within a few miles at most
have ever been a serious detriment to its continued growth. Some
old business buildings on Third street were taken in hand by a
real estate association and remodeled into substantial dwelling
houses. The Episcopalian church was opened for services that
year, and Fricker & Welsh erected the present roller mill, since
considerably enlarged. A notable event that year was the visit
of the World's Pair Commissioners, composed of representatives
of foreign nations who were entertained at the Elk Valley farm
on August 29, an ideal or perfect day as to weather conditions,
Governor Shortridge and other notable citizens being present.
In years following new residences began to fill in outlying
blocks either wholly vacant or partially so, and in general the
place began to improve and again increase in population. In
1896 the Great Northern Railroad Company erected a substantial
brick depot in place of a wooden structure that had burned down,
which was used until 1905 for division headquarters ;* also a ten-
stall roundhouse (increased ten more stalls in 1902), and further
put in yards containing several miles of tracks. The Lutherans
erected their church the same year. In 1897 a new coal chute
was added as an appendage to the railroad yards. In September,
*This structure was in turn burned down on the evening of February
17, 1909.

646 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
1897, the city held a street fair, the first and only thing of the
kind ever held here. In 1898 a second school building was added
to the rear of the first one that had been erected in 1883. The
year 1899 was an active one in the building line, both as to remod
eling and erecting new structures. Electric lighting was estab
lished here in that year. The census of 1900 gave Larimore 1,235
population, which was increased by 400 by the state census taken
in 1905. Every year now had its changes in respect to neAV buildings,
particularly substantial residences, with some brick business
blocks which replaced old wooden buildings. In this line the
Larmour Brothers ' hardware store was erected in 1898 ; 'the build
ing now occupied by the Elk Valley Bank, in 1901 ; the K. P. Hall
building, in 1902, and the Arnold Mercantile building, in 1905. A
further addition was made to the public schools, the west building
being erected in 1904. In 1904-5 the present Presbyterian church
building was erected in place of the first building. Within the
last few years much attention has also been given to civic im
provements. Favored with an abundant supply of pure water, with good
schools, six church organizations, besides Salvation Army bar
racks, frequent entertainments in the opera house, and other ad
vantages, Larimore has become a good residence point, and it is
hoped the place is destined to improve in these respects.
Horace F. Arnold is one of North Dakota's representative
men and a worthy example of that splendid type of men who have
given to that state the high standing it now enjoys.
A native of Danielson, Conn., he was born June 19, 1857, and
is a son of Ellery C. and Adaline A. (Steere) Arnold. He acquired
his education in the academy at Caledonia, Minn., and at the Uni
versity of North Dakota, and on leaving college turned his atten
tion to farming. Mr. Arnold moved to North Dakota in 1879,
and the next year settled in the Elk valley, tAvo miles west of the
present site of Larimore, where, for a period of twenty-two years
he carried on the "Arnold Farm," comprising 2,200 acres, in
which he owned a controlling interest. Since purchasing a con
trolling interest in the "Larimore Pioneer," in 1890, he has been

THE CITY OF LARIMORE 647
its publisher. In 1908 he also engaged in the mercantile business
at Larimore. Aside from his regular occupation, Mr. Arnold has
devoted much time to civic, educational and other public affairs
looking to the betterment and growth of his city and community
and to the development of the state's resources. From 1891 he
served ten years in the state senate and there rendered important
service in building up the State University and for furthering
educational interests in general. He was one of the prime movers
in establishing the Chautauqua at Devil's Lake, and from 1894
to 1900 was president of that institution. For sixteen years, since
1893, he has been a member of the board of education at Lari
more, and also during the years 1903-5 served as mayor of the city.
Mr. Arnold has for many years been prominent in fraternal
and benevolent organizations, and since 1888 has been connected
with the Various lodges in the York and Scottish Rite Orders of
Masonry, and is also affiliated with the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
In all his varied relations he has sustained an unblemished
character, and has the unqualified confidence of all who know
him, and his successful and useful career well illustrates what one
may achieve by persistently following a high and well defined
purpose, and furnishes an example worthy of emulation.
East Grand Forks.
This little city is situated at the junction of the Red River of
the North and the Red Lake river, and has a thriving community
of over 3,000 population. With its sister city of Grand Forks,
it forms one of the most important trade centers in the North
west. Railroads radiating to various points on the compass, and
with fleets of steamers and barges for large transportation com
panies, make of it a busy town. Here is located also the most
complete and extensive lumbering establishments in the Red River
valley. In its commercial interests this city is closely identified
with Grand Forks, N. D.
This section was first visited by W. C. Nash, to whom belongs
the honor of being the first white settler in East Grand Forks.

648 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
He is a native of Pennsylvania, but for several years before
coming here was located at Fort Abercrombie on the Red river,
about 100 miles south of this point. Having been advised by his
physicians to spend several weeks "roughing it" because of ill
health, he was induced to accompany a military expedition under
Major Hatch, which left Fort Snelling, at St. Paul, in July, 1863,
in quest of the Sioux chiefs, Little Six and Medicine Bottle,
leaders of the Indians concerned in the fearful massacre of set
tlers in Minnesota in 1862, and who were supposed to be hiding
in the northwest part of this state. On the trip northward, Mr.
Hatch and his men camped here at "Grand Porks." In 1864 Mr.
Nash secured a contract for a tri-weekly mail service between
Port Abercrombie and Pembina, which he continued for nearly
five years. During that time he made many visits here, having
been attracted by the richness of the soil and other features of
the place on his former visits. In 1869 he erected several build
ings for the government at Pembina and after completing his
contract there he settled here, which became subsequently his
place of residence. It was through his influence that the city was
incorporated in 1887.
During the years 1871 and 1872 a number of new settlers
located in the vicinity. In 1873 a postoffice was established, with
Archie McRea as postmaster. The office was known as Nash
ville until 1883, when it was changed to East Grand Porks. A
school district was organized in 1876, with W. C. Nash, John
Griggs and George Inkster as a school board, and Miss Carrie
Griggs as teacher. In 1881 Mrs. John Griggs platted and laid
out forty acres of land opposite the business portion of Grand
Forks, platting it as "Grand Forks East." In the winter of 1881,
W. J. S. Trail, who owned 120 acres east of Mrs. Grigg's land,
platted an addition and placed it on the market in March, 1882.
The first grain elevator was erected here in 1882. It is now
the Minneapolis and Northern grain elevator. In February,
1882, J. W. Howes opened a lumber yard and was the first to
commence business in that line. C. Madison, the city's pioneer
merchant, came here in May, 1882. This building was subse
quently occupied by the Thompson Company's store. In 1882 the

\

\

THE CITY OF LARIMORE 649
St. P. M. & N. Ry. Co. erected a depot, and during this year also
a hotel was built by Peter Gilly. Also during this same year a
real estate office was opened by Masterson & Carroll; a black
smith by Alexander Robinson; a boarding house by George H.
Barlow; a drug store by Eckles & Morgan; the "Weekly Courier"
by Bailes & Houge; a real estate office by F. J. Duffy; and the
hardware store by Hope Brothers ; and a village school, with Miss
Sauer as teacher. On January 15, 1883, a public meeting of the
citizens was held, at which it was decided to take steps to incor
porate the city of East Grand Forks. S. H. Parkhurst, C. Madi
son and F. J. Duggan were appointed a committee to attend to
the formalities. A chamber of commerce was organized in 1883,
and the fire department was organized in February. The name
of the postoffice was changed to East Grand Porks in this year,
and in July a village jail was built at a cost of $600. In 1886-7,
largely through the efforts of W. C. Nash, the state legislature
passed an act providing for a special charter, under which the
city was incorporated in March, 1887. The first election was held
April 5, 1887.

CHAPTER XXIX.
HISTORY OF CAVALIER AND PEMBINA COUNTIES.
By John Mahon.
Forty-one years is a very short time in the life of such a
commonwealth as that embraced by the counties of Cavalier and
Pembina, and yet it is but forty-one years since the first organi
zation of these counties was consummated. Their development
has advanced with such tremendous strides that the progress
made is difficult to realize. The pioneer days have already passed
and the pioneers and their posterity are reaping their rewards.
The history prior to the organization is somewhat uncertain,
due perhaps to the fact that the early settlers did not think their
acts worthy of recording. I haA7e been unable to find any Indian
legends that pertain especially to these two counties. I am in
debted to Mr. Charles Lee, Mr. G. Short and others for many
facts and incidents in this article.
The history of Pembina, the county seat of Pembina county,
situated at the junction of the Pembina and Red riA7ers, dates back
into the eighteenth century. Captain Alexander Henry, in the
employ of the Northwest Fur Company, established a trading post
at the mouth of the Pembina river in the year 1799, and com
menced trade with the different bands of Indians that then occu
pied that region. At that time this territory belonged to France
and formed in 1803 a part of the Louisiana purchase. Captain
Henry made notes of what transpired during his stay — the condi
tions of the country, the game, etc. These notes are now in the
possession of the Canadian government at Ottawa.
There were undoubtedly adventurers and hunters Avith Avhite
650

CAVALIER AND PEMBINA COUNTIES 651
blood in their veins wandering over this territory prior to Cap
tain Henry's coming. Professor Keating, in Major Long's expe
dition of 1823, makes mention of a French-Canadian who had
lived at Pembina since 1780, but failed to record his name.
The history of the occupation of the state by the white man
begins with Captain Henry's record in 1799. In his journal he
makes mention of a house that had been built at Pembina on the
south bank of the Pembina river, by a Mr. ChaboUier, in the year
1797. This was perhaps the first permanent structure and the
first home in the state. He describes his first trading post, built
at Pembina in 1799, as being made of logs and plastered with
mud and afterward whitewashed Avith a white clay brought from
the Pembina mountains. In 1801 he established a trading post
at Walhalla, then known as the Hare Hills. Other posts were
established about the same time at Parkriver, Grand Porks and
points in Minnesota.
The X. Y. Fur Company and the Hudson Bay Company also
established trading posts at Pembina and Walhalla about this
time, and great rivalry existed betAveen these three companies.
Captain Henry makes a note in his journal of having built a
wateh tower in front of his post at Pembina, that he might watch
the movements of his competitors. He continued in the company's
service here until about 1810, when he was removed to the Rocky
mountain district along the Columbia river, where he died in
1821. During his management furs were exported from the Red
River country by way of York factory on the Hudson Bay.
About 1810 to 1815 farming in a small way had been started
around Winnipeg by the Selkirk settlement of Highland Scotch.
On account of some attacks on these settlements a small colony
of the settlers took refuge in Pembina in 1812, and continued to
live there until 1823, when Major Long made his expedition to
the Red River valley and established the international line. At
that time there were several hundred settlers, principally half-
breeds, in the Pembina settlement. Most of these moved across
the international line after it was established.
But little record was kept from this time until about 1840,
when independent traders began to operate. It was in this year

652 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
that Joe Rolette came to Pembina. Joe was a very unique char
acter. He had been educated in New York and at the age of
twenty took charge of his father's fur trade in this region, and
was shortly afterward made one of the American Pur Company's
chief managers at Pembina. In 1842 he started the first line of
Red river carts between Pembina and St. Paul. These cart lines
afterward proved to be a great factor in the starting and making
of the city of St. Paul, and the advertising and developing of
northern Minnesota and Dakota. As early as 1857 there were
between five and eight thousand carts employed in the fur trade
of the Red river. In 1843 N. W. Kitson came to take charge of
the fur company's trade, and young Joe operated under him.
Joe was fearless and had many thrilling adventures with the
hostile Indians. In 1857 he was elected to the Minnesota legisla
ture from the Pembina district, which was then a part of Min
nesota. To this position he was elected for four successive terms.
The citizens of St. Paul have not forgotten Joe. In the year
1857 a bill was introduced for the removal of the capitol of Min
nesota to St. Peter, and it was his manipulation that saved them
the capitol. There are two stories about this bill: one, that it
was stolen by Joe after it had passed both houses and before it
had received the governor's signature; the other, that he was
chairman of the committee to which it was referred, and he fixed
the bill so that it was not returned.
He was the first man to file a homestead on land in North
Dakota, having filed on part of Section 4, Township 163, Range
57, on June 15, 1868. He also gave the first deed issued in the
state, selling five aeres in Pembina to J. J. Hill, the present rail
road magnate. Mr. Rolette was married and raised a large fam
ily. He died in 1871 and was buried in Belcourt cemetery.
Prom May, 1858, when Minnesota became a state, until March,
1861, there was no organization of that part of Dakota lying east
of the Missouri and White Earth rivers. At that time, in Presi
dent Buchanan's administration, Dakota Territory was organized,
and on May 27 of the following year President Lincoln appointed
Dr. William Jayne, of Illinois, first governor of what, to his mind,
was the most promising territory yet organized.

CAVALIER AND PEMBINA COUNTIES 653
Norman W. Kittson started business for himself and was one
of the most successful independent fur traders. He had a number
of trading posts and a large line of carts and accumulated a large
fortune. He was appointed postmaster at Pembina in 1846, and
either he or E. J. Shields was the first postmaster in North Da
kota. He was succeeded by Charles Cavalier in 1863, which posi
tion Mr. Cavalier held until 1884. His son Edward was then ap
pointed and is still postmaster at Pembina. Mr. Charles Cavalier
came to Pembina in 1851 and was the first customs officer. In
1863 he built the first postoffice. He was one of the commissioners
appointed by Governor Jayne in 1867 to organize the county. He
was married to Miss Murray, whose grandfather came from Scot
land with his family in 1812, and settled in Pembina, where they
lived for several years. They moved to Caldenan (near Winni-jA
peg) when they learned they were not on British territory. Mrs.
Cavalier still lives at Pembina and has the honor of being the
oldest living white settler of North Dakota.
Another interesting old settler is W. H. Moorhead. He came
to Pembina in 1857 — a carpenter and contractor. He was a wild
and fearless frontiersman, but he had a big, generous heart that
was ever ready to help in times of trouble and distress. He had
the confidence of those who knew him and assisted in making
treaties with the Indians. Like most of the early settlers he did
some trading with the Indians in furs at Pembina, Walhalla,
Devils Lake, Turtle Mountains, and as far west as Minot. In
1867, when Pembina county was organized, he was appointed
sheriff. He died in'^iSfi' and Avas buried by the brethren of the '
Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges.
Perhaps there has been no one person more in the minds of
the people or who has had more to do with the making and mold
ing of the politics of Pembina county and of the state of North
Dakota than Honorable Judson La Moure. He came to Pembina in
1868 and engaged in the mercantile business. He very soon became
interested in politics and is one of the great leaders of the Re
publican party of the state of North Dakota. He represented
Pembina county in the territorial legislature in 1872-77-81 and 85,
and was elected to the state senate in 1889, which position he has

654 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
held continuously up to the present time. His influence has been
felt in all departments of the legislature. He is a good judge of
character and is said to be a true friend and a bitter enemy.
From 1870 to 1890 there was no more familiar face in Pembina
county than that of H. R. Vaughn. He was one of those generous,
wholesouled felloAVs who greeted every one with a smile and a
hearty welcome. He Avas land agent for Pembina county and
from 1879 to 1883, when the great rush Avas on for Pembina
county land, he was a very busy man. He had Mr. Allen, Mr.
Goodfellow and Bob Eweing for assistants, but we had to line
up and take our turn in filing on land. Pembina county was the
scene of great activities and Mr. Vaughn's office was the center.
Pembina county was a very attractive place for homeseekers.
The whole county Avas almost level. It had a surface of black
loam from two to three feet deep, underlaid by a clay subsoil and
drained by the Red, Pembina and Tongue rivers and by innu
merable coulees. The rivers Avere skirted with a heaA'y groAvth
of oak, elm, boxelder and poplar trees, and made a most attractive
section for the incoming tide of settlers. In 1879 the immigra
tion began in earnest. The first settlers followed the rivers.
Some went up the Pembina to Walhalla, where John Major, the
Emerlees, C. W. Andrews and many other prominent settlers
had located. Some Avent up the Tongue to CaA-alier, where John
Beaehtel and Abb French had begun operations. Others followed
the Red up the old stage line, past the Hunt Settlement, to Dray
ton, where a splendid settlement Avas started around the Healeys
and the Wallaces. The writer located at Jolliete, on Section 15,
Township 161 and Range 51, in April, 1879, and as a boy was the
proud owner of 320 acres of the best land in the world.
Perhaps it is safe to say that ninety per cent of the first settlers
came here without a dollar. This tended to make a great many
hard-up for a long time. But very liberal credit was extended
by the business men. It is very interesting to listen to some of
the old-timers tell of their experiences in getting along without
money. Perhaps Avhen the last sack of flour was gone, with no
money, With a wife and babies at home, and alone among stran
gers, credit was extended by the A7illage storekeeper. In many

JOHN MAHON, LANGDON, N. D., ONE OF THE EARLIEST SETTLERS OF
PEMBINA AND CAVALIER COUNTIES  AUTHOR OF ARTICLE
ON EARLY SETTLEMENTS IN PEMBINA AND
CAVALIER COUNTIES

CAVALIER AND PEMBINA COUNTIES 655
cases credit was extended beyond all business reason, and often
to the final detriment of the buyer. I knew of such a case in
1880. I have forgotten the name of the purchaser, but he located
in 1879 and had ten acres broke, which he sowed to wheat in
the spring of 1880. He had a splendid crop. It got ready to cut.
He went to Strong and Thompson's hardware store in Pembina
and selected a cradle which cost five dollars. Pie said he would
be able to pay as soon as he threshed his wheat. But they did
not sell cradles on time and he went away disappointed. ITe
stepped out of the store and told his neighbor Avhom he met on
the street. Strong and Thompson were agents for a wire binder.
Mr. Abrahms was in their employ. He happened to overhear the
man tell his cradle story, and started in to sell him a binder for
$315. He told him he could cut the crop of several of his neigh
bors and soon pay for the binder. But the man said he had no
team. Mr. Abrahms took him to Randal and Norten's and they
sold him a pair of horses for $500, and took security on the team
and his ten acres of wheat. They went to the harness shop and
bought a forty-dollar set of harness. He had to have a wagon
and feed — the wagon cost ninety dollars. He then came back to
Strong and Thompson's and bought a binder and gave security on
the horses, harness and Avagon, and Avas ready for home. In most
countries this kind of credit would ruin a beginner, but there
were many cases that were parallel with this. Those who were
good managers and had no bad luck succeeded in pulling through. £
The first missionary in the state was Father Bellecure. He^
came to Walhalla in 1845 to labor among the Indians. He erected" ^
the first church in the state at Walhalla, which was twenty-eight
feet wide by fifty feet long, with a basement in which he lived.
In 1847 he placed upon this church a bell weighing 300 pounds.
It must have required more than ordinary courage and zeal to
push out so far among the roving bands of treacherous Indians.
The ringing of the bell was surely music in those early days. It
still rings at Walhalla.
In 1852 Mr. Terry, a Baptist missionary from Minnesota,
accompanied by a Mr. Tanner, began work among the natives at
Walhalla. He visited Winnipeg for supplies and got acquainted

656 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
with a young lady whom he engaged to marry. On his return to
Walhalla he began making arrangements for a home and the
building of a schoolhouse. As he entered the woods to prepare
the logs for this building he was shot, pierced by a shower of
arrows, and his scalp taken by a band of Sioux Indians. Thus,
hope so bright and the life of the first Christian martyr of North
Dakota went out.
On May the first, 1853, Alonza Barnard and D. B. Spencer,
their wives and children and an old man named Mr. White, ar
rived at Walhalla from Oberlin, Ohio. They were missionaries
of the Baptist church and were welcomed by N. W. Kittson, who
gave them quarters in his trading post until a home was prepared.
They had with them a very old-styled melodion that they had used
in their work at the Cass Lake Mission. They also brought with
them the first printing press ever used in North Dakota. These
articles were brought in birch-bark canoes from Cass lake, across
Red lake and down the Red Lake river, to the old cart trail near
Crookston. From there they were brought on Red river carts to
Walhalla by way of Pembina. They were used in the spread of
the gospel and in the Avorship of Him they loved, until the Indian
massacre in 1854, when Mrs. Spencer was killed. After this mas
sacre the mission was given up and the printing press and melo
dion taken to the Red River Settlement near Winnipeg. The
printing press was used by Dr. Schultz (afterward governor of
Manitoba) in printing the "Northwester," the first paper of
that region. About 1875 Father Scott began his work. He rep
resented the Presbyterian church from Winnipeg to Fargo and
was a A7ery kind old man, heartily welcomed and loved by all.
In 1881-2 the Neche branch of the Great Northern railway
was built across the center of Pembina county. This was the first
railroad to cross this territory and the old cart lines, the old
stage route and the boats on the Red River were discontinued.
The deep worn ruts of the old cart trails, started nearly 100 years
ago, running from Pembina and Walhalla toward St. Paul and
the Missouri river, are still visible in many places.
In 1861 Dakota Territory was organized and the following
year the first townships were surveyed along the Red river from

CAVALIER AND PEMBINA COUNTIES 657
Pembina southAvard. Pembina county was organized in 1867 and
took in most of the Red River valley. Pembina was designated
as the county seat, and Charles Cavalier, Joseph Rolette and
Charles Grant were appointed commissioners by the governor to
organize the first county in the state. They met on August the
12th, 1867. Joe Rolette was appointed chairman ; J. E. Harrison,
register of deeds; James McFetridge, judge of probate; W. H.
Moorhead, sheriff, and John Dease, superintendent of schools.
The population of the state at that time was seventy-six whites
and 524 half-breeds. About 400 of these were in Pembina county.
The first term of court in the state was held in Pembina in July,
1871, Judge French presiding.
Not until Pembina county was pretty well settled was there
any stir in Cavalier county. An old deep-worn cart trail, run
ning via Beaulieu and Olga to Devils Lake, was the only sign of
human habitation. This trail had been in use by the fur traders
before 1860. All of Cavalier county except Range 57 is on the
plateau known as the Pembina mountains. This plateau has an
elevation of 800 feet above the Red River valley. This was the
feeding ground of the buffalo when Pembina and Walhalla were
great trading posts and was known as the plains. Gregory Des
Jarles, one of the first to file on land in Cavalier county, was
born sixty years ago, about six miles south and east of where
Langdon now stands, while his parents were on a buffalo hunt.
Most of the eastern part of this county was settled by squatters
from 1880 to 1884, at which time most of the county was sur
veyed. J. B. Beauchamp and Father St. Piere were the first
white men to settle on the Pembina mountain. They squatted on
land near the present site of Olga in 1882. Going there in March
on the snow, they met some half-breeds who ordered them off
and threatened them with a band of hostile braves. The same
spring John Reid, for twelve years one of our county commis
sioners, made a tour of the county, going as far west as the Turtle
mountains. They found they were not the first to cross the
country, the way being marked by buffalo heads set up in line
on the tops of the hills. They returned to Beaulieu and located
on land at the foot of the mountains.

658 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Robert Scott, George W. Graves and Robert Watson drove in
over the plains, by way of the Mowberry Settlement in Manitoba,
and settled on land about the same time, where they still reside.
Yerxa Brothers started a store at Beaulieu, the first in the county,
with J. B. Beauchamp as manager. Father St. Piere had a Cath
olic church erected at Olga, which was shortly afterward bought
by George Winter and J. B. Chale and converted into a hotel
known as Hotel de Log, which was a very popular resort for
many years. They built an addition to the hotel which they used
as a store. Mr. M. D. O'Brien opened a supply store about three
miles west of Olga, on a ravine which has ever since been known
as 0 'Brien coulee. And so the settlement kept spreading.
In 1883 P. McHugh and W. J. Mooney settled on land where
Langdon now stands and commenced the organization of Cavalier
county. P. McHugh, W. H. Mathews and L. C. Norcong were
appointed commissioners for that organization. The first meet
ing was held on the eighth day of July, 1884, and the second on
August 4 of the same year. P. McHugh resigned and W. J.
Doyle was appointed in his place. P. McHugh was appointed
register of deeds and acting clerk at this meeting. W. J. Mooney
was appointed judge of probate and Joe Hamann, justice of the
peace. The contract was let to Joe Hamann for the digging of a
well at one dollar and a half per foot, the license to sell intoxicat
ing liquors was set at $200 per year, and the meeting was
adjourned. An election was held in November, the various officers elected
and the location of the county seat voted on. The principal
interest centered around the location of the county seat. The
voting precinct at Langdon was small, but there were some good
workers. About a dozen bachelors started voting early on the
morning of election day. It is said they changed their names and
wearing apparel often and voted all the sod shacks for miles"
around, and gave a big majority for the right men and Langdon
as the county seat. P. McHugh was elected register of deeds;
C. B. Nelson, treasurer; Clarence Hawks, sheriff; H. D. Allert,
superintendent of schools ; W. J. Mooney, judge of probate ; J. J.
Reilley, coroner, and W. J. Starkweather, county commissioner.

CAVALIER AND PEMBINA COUNTIES 659
The county Avas organized thirty-one and one-half miles north and
south by forty-eight miles east and west, and is now one of the
richest farming counties in the state. The surface is covered with
a black loam iavo feet deep, which is underlaid by a clay subsoil.
The average rainfall is eighteen inches.
In those days life on the prairie seemed rather dreary to the
young settlers who had come from the thickly populated parts
of the East — principally from Canada. Far away from home,
without schools or churches, neighbors far apart and from fifty
to eighty miles from a railroad, was not what they had been
accustomed to. Wheat at forty cents a bushel, and a trip to mar
ket with oxen which took from four to six days, did not mean
many luxuries for the home. But the women of those days were
not looking for luxuries. They thought only of home and him
who was making the struggle. And with a heart at home that
was beating out love and inspiration these struggles were but
pleasures to the men Avorthy of the name.
Olga was the center in those days. An incident happened
there which at the time aroused the whole county. A young lady
who was living on her homestead south of Olga was found dead
in her shanty. She had been assaulted and her skull was cracked.
A few days later, about ten miles northwest of Olga, a young
schoolma'am, while crossing a deep ravine, was met by a strange
man who tried to assault her. After a hard struggle that seemed
like hours to her she escaped and told the neighbors. The news
of the two crimes reached Olga, a searching party was organized,
the fellow captured and brought in. The whole settlement gath
ered and the young woman was sent for to identify the man.
The excitement was intense and vengeance was seen on every
face. A fair trial was given, and when it was shown that the
man was guilty of both crimes the mob began to howl. A long
rope was placed around his neck, a hundred men or more seized
it and started on a mad run for a poplar bluff. The body bounded
like a ball and was suspended on a branch of a small tree. Thus
speedy justice was dealt out to the first murderer of Cavalier
county. In 1887 the Larimore branch of the Great Northern railway

660 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
was extended to Langdon. Osnebrock and Milton sprang up and
were soon hustling business towns. The city of Langdon was
organized. P. McHugh was elected mayor. 0. Orton, Thomas
Brown, W. D. Keenan, W. F. Kessler, F. H. Prosser and M. L.
Sullivan constituted the board of aldermen, and J. B. Boyd was
treasurer. W. J. Mooney, J. McPhail, John Mahon, E. I. Donovan
and B. R. Glick were on the board of education, and one of the
busiest county seats in the state was started.
In 1897 the Great Northern was extended from Langdon to
the Hannah Settlement. The towns of Dresden, Wales and Han
nah started, with Hannah as the terminus of the branch. As was
expected, Hannah has grown to be a splendid business place.
There is an excellent farming section tributary to it and C. B.
McMillan, George Bulloch, W. E. Adams, L. H. Prior, James
Balfour and many other enterprising business men have been
there since it started. The Lacota branch of the Great Northern
was extended across the west side of the county and the Soo Line
across the south end. At the present time there are over 100
miles of railroad and sixty elevators in Cavalier county. This
county is underlaid at a depth of about ten feet' with a thick
deposit of cement shale. A large cement manufactory, estab
lished by Mr. E. J. Babcock, of the State University, is in opera
tion at McLean, which is at the foot of the mountain three miles
below Olga. To this point the Great Northern railway is being
extended at the present time. Another cement and brick factory
is in operation near the site of the old fish-trap on the Pembina
river. Here ages ago the Indians made a network of logs and
poles across the rapids of the river, to which they came in season
to get their supply of fish. Except the cement plants and the
many flour mills, there are very few manufacturing establish
ments in these two counties. And the district will probably
remain a purely agricultural one for many years to come.
There is certainly no more beautiful piece of farming country
in any land. To stand on the summit of the mountain at Beaulieu
or Walhalla, an elevation of about 800 feet above the Red River
valley, is an inspiration. There is spread out before you one of
the grandest of landscapes. Away to the east an unbroken field

CAVALIER AND PEMBINA COUNTIES 661
of grain, as level as the waters of ancient Lake Agassiz, waves
over the entire valley which is dotted with palatial homes and
humble cottages, that are set about with shrubbery and groves
of trees. The rivers, skirted with timber, wind their snake-like
way northward. To the west are the undulating fields of Cavalier
county, with beautiful groves and splendid homes on every hill
top. But thirty years have passed since the conquering of this
stubborn prairie Avas really undertaken. Before the transforma
tion which, in this time, the energies of man have wrought, the
pioneer stands amazed. He sees the fields of waving grain, the
beautiful groves and the splendid roads, and he finds it difficult
to realize what time has done. He beholds the thriving cities
and towns, the hundreds of fortunes amassed and the prosperous
homes, and he marvels at the wealth this prairie has produced.
But if he cease his pleasant musings on the present and the past
and turn with me to vieAv the prospects of the future, his wonder
at what must come will be even greater than his marvel at what
has passed. Thirty years have but begun the development of
these counties. They are capable of supporting ten times their
present population of thirty-five thousand, and when one con
siders that as yet little more than half the virgin sod has been
turned, one realizes that their development is but in its infancy.
The new settlers, a splendid type of citizens, coming from Illinois,
Iowa, Wisconsin and other states, and the rising generation will
build upon the foundation already laid a commonwealth such as
only the fertile soil of this wonderful Red River valley can
produce. John Mahon.
Reminiscences of Fifty Years, by Mrs. Cavalier.
In the month of February, 1905, Charles A. Pollock, of Fargo,
N. D., was called upon to try a homicide case at Pembina, in this
state. The trial lasted three weeks. During the time he was there
he boarded with Mrs. Cavalier. Her husband was one of the
oldest settlers of the Northwest. The county of Cavalier was
named after him. Mrs. Cavalier was born in Fort Gary, now
Winnipeg, married Mr. Cavalier in 1856, at the old fort, Avhich

662 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
was located at or about where the town of Walhalla, N. D., is
now situated. She was the daughter of an English army officer,
and her parents came to Fort Gary along with the Hudson Bay
Company. Her entire life, therefore, has been spent in this North
western country, and since her marriage to Mr. Cavalier in 1856,
_has lived in what is now Cavalier county and at her present home
'in Pembina. Her residence is situated near the bank of the Pem-
xbina river, which empties into the Red river only a few hundred
feet from the door.
' During the time that Judge Pollock was her guest, there were
also gathered in her home quite a number of lawyers then in
attendance upon court, and it frequently happened that the con
versation about the table and in the evening would be with refer
ence to the early history of the state. It was Judge Pollock's
habit to write home frequently, and when any incident of special
interest was recounted by Mrs. Cavalier, he would reduce it to
writing as quickly as possible in a letter written to his home.
Those letters have all been preserved and we have secured access
to them, and give herewith some of the incidents as related by
Mrs. Cavalier and recounted by Judge Pollock in his letters to
his family.
Quoting from a letter dated February 4, 1905 :
"You will be interested in the anecdotes I am about to relate,
all told me by Mrs. Cavalier. At breakfast this morning she
related an experience had in 1863, forty-two years ago this win
ter, and as now (February 4, 1905) — this morning — it was forty-
two degrees below zero. Dogs Kept Them Warm.
"She, with her husband, came through here from Walhalla
on sleds drawn by dogs. They camped in the timber on the side
of the Pembina river bank, just in front of where her house now
stands. When night came on everyone slept out of doors. They
first laid down skins, then blankets. For covering they had skins
of animals. To keep their heads warm their dogs crawled close
around them. The animals were very kind and seemed to vie
with each other to see which one could get closest to the faces of

CAVALIER AND PEMBINA COUNTIES 663
the sleepers. In this way the head was kept warm. Mrs. Cavalier
says that it was a most delightful way in which to sleep, and they
experienced no inconvenience from the cold.
"She described a band of Chippewa Indians of some 300,
which were camped near by them at the time. They were under
the leadership of Chief Bear, a tall, straight, fine looking Indian.
Remnants of their tribe are now at Blue Earth, and are ruled over
by the son of Chief Bear. These Indians were great friends of
the whites, but deadly enemies of the Sioux tribe. Chief Bear
came one day into Mrs. Cavalier's house and inquired about the
progress of the war in the South. Being able to speak his lan
guage, she told him of having been to St. Cloud and saw three
regiments of soldiers about ready to start South. The old fellow
stood up and said, 'Ugh! how I would like to follow them with
my band.' Then, seeing a newspaper just received, he took it in
hand, looked it all over and said in substance:
" 'Fortunate white man — you can read and talk with that
paper, but we cannot,' and Mrs. Cavalier remarked, 'He seemed
so sad because of his ignorance.'
Buffalo in Countless Numbers.
"The following summer she and her husband and a party of
friends were riding through the country when they saw a herd
of buffalo, so many in number, even up into the thousands. As
they made their way along through the valley and up the side of
the hill, their movement, looking down from the brow of the hill,
was similar to the waves of the ocean. They were so close to
each other that individual identity was lost and they seemed one
moving mass of animal life. I had no idea that herds were so
large. "Upon the occasion in question her husband and friend shot
two big, strapping fellows, which of course furnished plenty of
meat and two fine robes. Then such skins were so plentiful that
they had but little value — not so now, since the buffalo is almost
extinct. "You might have enjoyed going from here to St. Paul as Mrs.
Cavalier and her husband did in 1864, but I doubt it. They did

664 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
not have a Pullman car. They did not go to sleep in Grand Forks
one night and wake up in St. Paul the next morning. No, they
spent eighteen days, going overland. They went in what is com
monly known as a Red river cart. These carts were a two-wheeled
concern with covering of skins, made something like a Pikes Peak
wagon; sometimes being drawn by horses, at others by cattle.
They were very much troubled in crossing streams and rivers.
Their route lay east of here some fifty miles, then southeast across
the head waters of the Mississippi. They passed through timber
and over prairie. Novel Ferry Boat.
"The plan adopted in crossing the river was this: A tub-
shaped vessel would be cut and bent into the form of a hoop;
willow twigs Avould be cut and so placed around the hoop as to
make the framework of a basket. This, then, would be covered
with skins taken from the top of the cart. A sort of cement they
carried was used to fill cracks, and thus make the concern
water proof. One man would swim the river with a small rope,
then tie this rope to a tree on the further shore, also to a tree on
the other shore. The handle of this basket would be attached
to this rope. Mrs. Cavalier and the women of the party would
then get into the basket, one by one, to be pulled through the
water in the basket. Landing upon the other shore, the basket
would be returned for the remaining members of the party, the
food and clothing — for you must remember there were no hotels
en route and all food had to be carried. The horse would swim
the river with the cart. She described several times when horses
balked in the middle of the stream, and how upon one occasion
she came near losing her life, and once their supplies tipped over.
In the latter case the men made great efforts by diving and other
wise and did succeed in saving a large part of the supplies.
"And so the experience of this pioneer ran. I shall get more
of them before leaving."
Prom a letter dated February 5, 1905 :
"I got a new story from Mrs. Cavaleer this morning. I find
I have spelled her name erroneously before. Notice the spelling.

CAVALIER AND PEMBINA COUNTIES 665
Her husband 's name, I find, was Charles. Now for the story :
"You remember the Chippewa and Sioux Indians were always
at war. The former were Red Lake Indians, so-called, and, as I
said yesterday, have descendants at the Blue Earth reservation.
The Sioux, you remember, made a raid down near New Ulm,
Minn., and murdered a lot of whites. General Sibley started for
them from St. Paul, captured some 300 and hung about thirty-
eight. The remainder were sent to Davenport, Iowa. I remember
the instance well, for we were then living at DeWitt, Iowa, twenty
miles north. There were about 300 of the Sioux who got away
from General Sibley and escaped to Canada, finally halting near
Portage la Prairie, west of Winnipeg. At this time a large band
of Chippewas (whom you will remember were always friendly to
the whites) were camped in the timber just north of old Fort
Gary. At this juncture Mrs. Cavileer happened to be visiting her
mother at Winnipeg. They lived not far from the old fort, and
upon the day in question she had gone about a mile north over
towards St. Boniface, to visit and spend the day with a friend.
' ' Shortly before some forty of the Sioux braves came down to
Winnipeg and proposed to smoke the pipe of peace with the
Chippewas — make up and be friends. The merchants of the -place,
observing what was going on, sent out tobacco, pipes, flour, meat,
etc., for the use of the Indians in their pow-wow. The dance
began. Just at this juncture Mrs. Cavileer came along returning
home. Suddenly, bang! bang! went the guns of both Sioux and
Chippewas. At this moment Mrs. Cavileer was within seventy-
five feet of the crowd. Every Chippewa with loaded gun leveled
and shot at the Sioux, killing seven of their number, and scalped
them right in Mrs. Cavileer 's presence. One escaping Indian
came running by Mrs. Cavileer. The eighth man of the Sioux
shot was pulled into the brush by a squaw Chippewa who was
friendly and his life was saved.
"The whites, seeing the treachery of the Chippewas, drove
them away and allowed the surviving Sioux to escape to Portage
la Prairie. Thus it is that probably this woman, Mrs. Cavileer,
is the only woman in North Dakota who ever saw an actual
Indian fight. The Chippewas justified their act because of the

666 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
continuous acts of treachery towards their tribe in former days.
How would you like to have been a pioneer ? ' '
From a letter dated February 6, as follows :
"I have two stories for you today. First: At an early date
they held court here at Pembina, with Judge Barnes upon the
bench. The early inhabitants of North Dakota will remember him
as being the father of Mrs. Judge Thomas, and also of L. A.
Barnes, who lives near Cotters Station, in Barnes township, south
west of Fargo. George I. Foster, the insurance agent of Fargo,
Avas clerk of the court. Both the judge and the clerk lived at
Fargo. It was in about the year 1870. They came north on the
Red river by boat. Upon the occasion in question they brought
along a man who had stolen a sack of flour at Bismarck. The
prisoner stated that his family was starving, hence he stole. Why
they went to all the trouble of bringing him here is more than I
can understand. Well, just before arriving, the boat had been
tied up to the bank and some merchandise was loaded. While in
this position a young child, daughter of a traveler, had been
climbing on a limb of a tree which hung over the boat. It seemed
that she was swinging on the limb, and as she was in the act of
swinging back to the boat it moved away, and the child dropped
into the river. Immediately the cry went forth, 'A child over
board!' but no one seemed to go to the rescue. The criminal (?),
however, though having chains on his legs, seeing the situation,
jumped into the river chains and all and rescued the child. When
they got to Pembina the passengers raised a purse of sixty dollars,
gave it to the man, and, instead of a trial being had, he was
returned to his home a free man and a hero.
"Second: You know at an early date at the fort here, Mr.
Cavalier being collector of customs, was also hotelkeeper and
postmaster. One evening there came up from the South on a
boat a United States marshal. He was traveling incog. He put
up at the Cavalier's. The man after whom he had come was a
highway robber from Texas. This robber was working in a
saloon at St. Vincent, just across the river from here, in Minne
sota. The postoffice then, as now, was in the front part of the
house. The United States marshal came through the postoffice,

CAVALIER AND PEMBINA COUNTIES 667
put down his grip and coat, and was about to call for his mail,
when suddenly the door opened and the big, burly robber came
in to get his mail. The United States marshal suddenly turned
around, pulled his revolver and said, 'Bill, hold up your hands.'
Bill obeyed. The postoffice was quite full and there was a general
scattering. At this juncture Mrs. Cavalier came into the post-
office from the back room. Suddenly Bill turned, pulled his gun
and fired at the marshal. The ball grazed his shoulder, went
through the window and through the tent of some friendly In
dians camped on the adjoining lot. They, feeling that a nght
was on, suddenly appeared on the scene. The United States
marshal put in another shot, which went immediately through
the body of Bill. Bill, however, though stunned, fired again, and
shot the marshal through the heart, and at once fell dead himself.
This all in the presence of Mrs. Cavileer and her son Ned, who
is now the postmaster here.
"After examination it was found that the United States mar
shal was an old friend of Bill, and even stood up with him when
married. Bill was a son of one of the first families in Texas, but
became a desperado. Sad it was to the parents and friends of
both. Bill's remains lay here in the graveyard; those of the
United States marshal were returned to Texas."

CHAPTER XXX.
NELSON COUNTY.
Nelson county is situated within the watershed of the Red
River of the North, one county removed from the river, and con
tains twenty-eight congressional townships, equal to 1,008 square
miles, or 645,120 acres. The Sheyenne river drains the south
western portion of the county, while the eastern portion of the
county is drained by the Goose, Turtle and Park rivers. Stump
lake is a peculiar shaped sheet of water, but the name is not
appropriate. The Indians called this lake Wamduska, which sig
nifies "When on the waters, Oh, look." The name they gave it
calls upon the beholder to look at the beauties which surround it.
It is a fine body of water about seventeen miles in length, with
a breadth varying from a quarter of a mile to nearly three miles,
and covers an area of about sixteen square miles, or a little more
than 10,000 acres. Stump lake once formed a part of Devils lake
and its waters are impregnated with the same chemical substances
as those of the longer lake. The shores of this lake are studded
with beautiful beaches. White "Blue mountain," so-called, over
looks its western end and adds greatly to its natural scenery. A
few small streams are tributary to Wamduska lake, but it has
no outlet except possibly in the very wet seasons. The lake is
becoming a prominent summer resort. Lake Laretta, in Township
153, and Deer lake, in Township 152, are also worthy of mention.
The former is about two miles in length and a half mile broad.
This lake has marshy shores and line of low bluffs outside of the
marsh surrounding it. Deer lake is a beautiful sheet of water,
and there are other lakes in the county varying from a few acres
to 200 in area. Marshes also are numerous, and are scattered
668

NELSON COUNTY 669
over nearly every part of the county. In some instances they
are six to ten miles in length.
The soil of Nelson county is rich and productive, with a clay
subsoil which holds moisture and insures good crops even though
the rainfall should fall below the usual amount. Wheat and flax
here as in other counties of the state have been wealth producing
crops and have made the farmers practically independent. A
gradual improvement has been made during the last twenty-five
years among the farmers of this county, but during the past six
or seven years a decided improvement has been shown by farmers
with capital coming in from other states, and so productive is the
soil that time and again the crop from one season 's work has paid
for the land that produced it.
With the completion of the Aneta-Devils Lake branch of the
Great Northern railway, every farm is within easy access of
railway, so that the haul to market throughout the southern part
of the county in particular is now greatly lessened by this thor
oughfare. The prosperity of the county can in a measure be estimated
from the following figures as to the assessed value of Nelson
county property during recent years :
1900  $2,657,300
1901  2,936,564
1902  3,054,094
1903  3,260,418
1904  3,432,872
1905  3,738,593
The assessed values for 1906 are not as yet available.
Organizations : Nelson county was formed at the last session
of the legislature, in the spring of 1883, from portions of Grand
Forks, Ramsey and Foster counties. D. S. Dodds, P. I. Kane and
George Martin were the first county commissioners. In June,
1883, they organized, fixed the seat of justice at Lakota and
appointed the following county officers : Register of deeds, H. W.
Alexander ; clerk of court, W. S. Tallant ; judge of probate, D. J.
Tallant; treasurer, E. L. Owen; sheriff, Josiah Pierce; assessor,
M. A. Koons; surveyor,  Tucker. Lakota, the county

670 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
seat, was laid out July 1, 1883, by Messrs. Howard and Kane,
a syndicate of English capitalists. The railway had reached the
county late in the fall of 1882. Lakota is a city of 1,200
inhabitants, and is well located on the main line of the Great
Northern railway, sixty-three miles west of Grand Forks and 384
miles from St. Paul. From here runs a branch north to Sarles,
seventy-two miles.
It is a shipping point for an immense amount of grain each
season, and here are located six of the largest elevators doing
business in the state. The city is well laid out and within the
past two years considerable cement walk has been laid. There
are several large stores in the place, and in a business way the
little town is very prosperous. Lakota has an exceptionally fine
high school building and a corps of nine teachers. A movement
is at present under Avay to provide the city with an electric light
plant and other metropolitan advantages. For a city of its size,
Lakota boasts of as many comfortable homes as any other place
in the state. There are a number of other prosperous towns in
Nelson county. Michigan, twelve miles to the east, has a popula
tion of upwards of 700 and is prosperous and progressive. Peters
burg is fifteen miles east, also on the main line of the railroad, and
is rapidly coming to the fore. In the southern part of the county
is located Aneta, one of the best towns in the state. Then there
are the new towns along the new branch, among which might be
mentioned McVille, Tolna and Pekin, all of which have been
developed within a year and give every indication of substan-
tiability and progressiveness. Schools of Nelson County.
The schools of Nelson county are efficient. The first record
bears date for report of county superintendent, Jefferson M.
Meyer, for year ending June, 1885. At that time the school town
ship of Dayton, Hoiland, Illinois, Kane, Lee, Mapes, Michigan City
and Petersburg report an attendance of 184 pupils enrolled; 17
teachers employed, at an average salary — male, $50; female,
$35.50 per month. The superintendent's salary, for services be
tween January 5 to June 30, was $250. In 1889, under the super-

ASLE J. GRONNA

NELSON COUNTY 671
intendency of Clarkson A. Hall, there were 27 school districts,
with an enrollment of 1,805 pupils. Under B. 0. Skrivset the
superintendent for the year ending June, 1908, the number of
school districts are 27; schoolhouses, 85; enrollment of pupils,
2,557 ; teachers, 159. The total valuation of school property is
$128,935. Average salary of teachers, $50.84; of rural schools
alone, $48.50.
County officers of Nelson county for the year ending June 1,
1908, are : County auditor, Jonas Burreson ; county treasurer,
Fred Lindvig ; county judge, W. H. Smith ; clerk of court, R. J.
Roberts ; register of deeds, P. Sjurseth ; superintendent of schools,
B. O. Skrivseth; sheriff, P. E. Sandlie; state's attorney, J. H.
Fleming; coroner, E. Lohrbauer.
Asle J. Gronna, representative in congress from North Da
kota, was born in Elkader, Clayton county, Iowa, December 10,
1858. His parents came from Naes, Hallingsdal, Norway. His
father was engaged in farming, and his boyhood days were spent
on the farm. When he was two years of age the family removed
to Houston county, Minnesota, and the future congressman was
educated in the public schools of that county and at the Caledonia
academy. After leaving school he taught for several years in
the district schools of Minnesota and South Dakota. He came to
North Dakota in 1880, locating at Buxton, Traill county, and is
thus one of the pioneers of the Red River valley. In 1887 he
removed to Lakota, Nelson county, where he has resided ever
since, and where he has been engaged in farming and in the
mercantile business. Politically Mr. Gronna has always been
identified with the Republican party and has taken an active part
in its affairs; for a number of years he was chairman of the Re
publican county central committee. He has been an active factor
in the development of his section of the state and has taken a
prominent part in the public affairs of the community in which
he lives. He was for a number of terms president of the village
board of trustees and also served as president of the board of
education for a number of terms. He was a member of the terri
torial legislature of 1889 and took an active part in the delibera
tions incident to the change from the territorial to the state form

672 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
of government. He was appointed regent of the University of
North Dakota by Governor White in 1902, serving until his sub
sequent election to congress, and devoting very largely of his
time and energies to the interests of the institution. He was the
Republican nominee in 1904 for representative from the state at
large to the fiifty-ninth congress, and was elected by a vote which
nearly trebled that of his nearest opponent, A. G. Burr, the Demo
cratic nominee. He was renominated and re-elected to the sixtieth
congress, and in 1908 was again nominated by the Republicans,
receiving the highest vote at the primaries in a field of nine
Republican candidates, and was re-elected by a large majority.
His record in congress has been that of an indefatigable worker,
and few members of the house have devoted themselves more
assiduously to the interests of their constituents than has Mr.
Gronna. Scarcely ever absent from his seat during the sessions,
he has taken an active part not only in the legislation affecting
this state, but in the affairs of the country in general. He has
contended for a revision of the tariff, with the interests of the
Northwest in view, and his championship of the denatured alcohol
measure was largely influential in securing its passage. He is a
forcible and convincing, rather than an eloquent, speaker, and
evidently fortifies himself against successful opposition by care
ful and elaborate preparation and exhaustive research. As a
practical farmer and a successful business man he is thoroughly
in touch with North Dakota's chief interests and is a representa
tive citizen. Mr. Gronna is the senior member of the Gronna-
Larson Company, of Lakota, one of the largest general merchan
dising concerns in the state, and he also has extensive farming
interests in Nelson county. Mr. Gronna was married August 31,
1883, to Bertha M. Ostby, of Spring Grove, Minn. They have two
sons and three daughters, James, Grace, Lillian, Amy and Arthur.
Mr. and Mrs. Gronna are connected with the Lutheran church
and active in church and social circles.
Amund M. Tofthagen, president of the Lakota Mercantile
Company, is a gentleman of rare business ability and has made a
name for himself in North Dakota. He is a man of intelligence
and is always a student, making the best of his opportunities to

AMUND 0. T0FTHAGEN

NELSON COUNTY 673
learn of men and the world. He has just returned from a trip to
Alaska, and is about to make his second trip around the world.
This second journey as planned, with its loops through Africa
and South America in particular, will necessitate about 40,000
miles of travel, but when completed will be one of the most com
plete journeys of the kind ever made.
The following sketch of Mr. Tofthagen is taken from the
"Compendium of History and Biography of North Dakota," pub
lished in 1900. It is as follows :
"Our subject was born on the farm Tofthagen, Listad, Nor
way, November 12, 1858, and was the second child and oldest
son in a family of seven children. His parents, Andrew and
Mary (Simonson) Tofthagen, now reside in Wisconsin. The fam
ily came to America in 1871 and joined the father at Black River
Falls, where the father had been employed for over a year. Our
subject was reared on a farm and most of his work was done for
neighboring farmers, and he supported himself from the age of
fifteen years. He received a high school education and then
worked three years in a dry-goods store, and in 1882 entered the
employ of A. Abrahamsen, general merchant of Grand Forks, and
in April of that year he filed claim to land as a homestead in
Bergen township, Nelson county, and in the spring of the follow
ing year settled permanently on the farm and spent the summer
there. In 1885, when the office of county auditor was created,
our subject was appointed to fill the same, and in 1886, without
opposition, he became his own successor by popular vote. He
served as register of deeds in 1888-1892, thus making eight years
continuous service in the county courthouse. He then dealt in
real estate and loans in Hillsboro, North Dakota, where he re
mained until 1895, and then assumed the presidency of the Lakota
Mercantile Company. The business has prospered under his guid
ance and he is one of the prominent business men of his com
munity. "Mr. Tofthagen has enjoyed the advantages of extensive travel
and has visited many of the European countries at will, and has
vivid impressions of the political and social condition on the con
tinent. He is studious and observing and is a pleasing conversa-

674 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
tionalist on an extensive range of topics, and his fine library in
his handsomely furnished bachelor quarters in Lakota contains
volumes illustrative of the range of his researches. Mr. Toft
hagen is a member of the Masonic fraternity as a Knight Templar,
a member of the Mystic Shrine and thirty-third degree Elect, and
is very prominent in affairs of the order.

CHAPTER XXXI.
WALSH COUNTY.
The territory comprising Walsh county is described as follows
by the Tenth Anniversary Special Number, May, 1900, of the
Walsh "County Record":
"Eight hundred and fifty miles northwest of Chicago, 350
miles south of that imaginary boundary line which separates.
Uncle Samuel's domains from that division of her British maj
esty's realm known as the province of Manitoba, Dominion of
Canada, twelve miles west of the Red River of the North, and
on the borders of the picturesque tributary, the Park river, is
Grafton, the county seat of Walsh county and the metropolis of
northeastern North Dakota, in the center of the far-famed Red
River valley."
The Red river is the only large stream on the planet whose
course for hundreds of miles is northward, except the river Nile,
of which it is almost a prototype, and which has for thousands of
years contributed untold wealth to that ancient land.
The Red River valley proper is an apparently perfectly level
prairie, sloping almost imperceptibly towards the river. In
places, especially on the west, the boundary of the valley is
marked by abrupt rising of the surface and a sudden changing
from the level prairie to an undulative surface. Captain Henry,
who was in charge of an agency for the Hudson Bay Company,
established a branch trading station within the limits of the
present Walsh county, near the mouth of the Park river, over 100
years ago.
In September, 1800, he writes: "September 16: At Bois
Piers, near where we are encamped, has been a great crossing
675

676 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
for many years. The ground on both sides has been beaten as
hard as pavement, and the numerous roads leading to the river
a foot deep are surprising. When I consider the hard sod through
which these tracks are beaten, I am naturally at a loss and be-
Avildered in attempting to form any idea of the numerous herds
of buffaloes which must have passed here. We saw here the
buffalo all in herds crossing from east to west side, directing their
course to the Hare hills. We chased several herds and had fine
sport, but killed only two fat cows and took a small load of
meat down to the river for the canoes to take as they passed.
Here I lost one of my spurs. Having brought the meat near the
river we set out and did not stop until we reached Park river at
2 o'clock. We tied out our horses at the entrance to the Little
river, and went out to search for the proper spot to build, as the
Indians would not ascend the river any higher. We went up the
river about a mile and attempted to drink, but found the water
a perfect brine. I now found it impossible to build here even if
the wood had been proper. Early this morning I went out in
search of a proper place to build. I found none so well suited for
defense and Avood at hand, as a point of woods on the west side
of the Red river, within a quarter of a mile of the Little Park
river, a beautiful level plain which divides us from the river."
From the Walsh "County Record," aboA7e mentioned, we
extract the following account of the coming of the first settlers
of this county : Our Early Settlers.
The year 1878 brought the first settlers to the vicinity of
Grafton. Quite a number located along the borders of the pic
turesque Park river, for a distance of twenty miles west from
the Red river, during that year. Most of their claims were for
160 acres, and generally in the form of a rectangle one mile in
length and one-fourth of a mile in breadth, and a portion of each
claim consisting of timber land bordering on the river. The
"prairie" land AA7as at that time considered of little value. Among
the number who arrived during the year and who are still living
in the vicinity of Grafton may be mentioned: Ole T. Gordon,
John Johnson, Charles Johnson, Martin Dahl, Ole Olson, John

WALSH COUNTY 677
Stokke, John Colson, B. C. Askelson, Gus Colson, Mons Monson,
S. Larson and others. Mr. Gordon made the first land office
filing on land along the Park river. This claim, on which he
is still living, is one mile east of Grafton. Benjamin C. Askelson,
during the same year, located a claim, a portion of which is now
within the city of Grafton. Mr. Askelson has recently removed
to Ramsey county. Portions of the claims of Monson and Colson
are also included within the corporate limits of Grafton.
During the following winter, on February 11, 1879, Thomas E.
Cooper, having during the previous summer visited this point and
selected a claim, arrived with his family and, in a small log
building of decidedly primitive appearance, "settled" on the site
of the present city of Grafton. During the year of 1879 there
were a number of accessions to the ranks of the settlers along
the Park river, but there were none who cared to brave the hard
ships of living on the "dreary open prairie." These pioneers
were nearly all then without means, though now among the
wealthy citizens of the state. They were obliged to haul their
first crops to Grand Forks or Pembina to find a market, and ox
teams were usually the mode of conveyance. During the long
winters they were practically shut off from communication with
the outside Avorld. Walked All the Way.
Hon. D. W. Driscoll, North Dakota's state treasurer, was
among the number who came to the present Walsh county in
1879. He located at Acton, then known as Kelly's Point, and en
gaged in the farm implement business there, and also in farming.
He now owns in that vicinity the largest farm in the county,
comprising some 3,000 acres, completely equipped as a grain and
stock farm. Mr. Driscoll, recalling a trip he made on foot from
Acton through this section in December, 1879, says: "It was at
that time a decidedly dreary landscape. There were but very
few settlers then within miles of the present city of Grafton, and
these were living along the river. There was not a single house
to be seen on the prairie in any direction nor any sign of human
habitation. I remember meeting Charles Johnson, 0. Olson, T. E.
Cooper, O. T. Gorder, Iver Dahl and a few others, all living in

678 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
log houses 'in the timber.' No one had any idea at that time
that the prairie land would be settled for many years, if ever.
Came with a Rush.
"Two years later there was not a desirable quarter section
within miles which had not been taken. I never saw such a rush
as there was during '80 and '81. They were not by any means
all farmers. Broken-down merchants, lawyers, teachers, black
smiths, jewelers, carpenters, and many of other occupations, tried
their hand at farming. The result was not in every instance
entirely satisfactory, and some moved on to other pastures. But
I do not know of a man who has engaged in farming with any
where near proper methods who has not done well here, and it
would be difficult to find anywhere a more prosperous farming
district than this section of the Red River valley. ' '
Early in 1880, through the efforts of Thomas E. Cooper, the
settlers along the river secured the advantage of a postal route,
which was established from Acton westward twenty miles. The
route included three postoffices. Mr. Cooper was named as one
of the postmasters, and the name selected for the postoffice here
and eventually the future town, was "Grafton," in honor of
Grafton county, New Hampshire, the home of Mrs. Cooper's par
ents. Another postoffice five miles east of Grafton was called
Park River, and William McKenzie was appointed postmaster.
John Almen was appointed postmaster at "Swedon," eight miles
west of Grafton. These two offices Avere discontinued some time
ago. Grafton's Beginning.
The Grafton postoffice was for some time in Mr. Cooper's log
house. Soon after the postoffice was established, Bert Beer
opened a little store, and in March, 1881, John Volk started a
blacksmith shop. A little later, N. J. Roholt opened a grocery.
In July W. M. Chandler started a general store. These, Grafton's
pioneer "mercantile houses," were located on the bank of the
river near the point where the Great Northern bridge has since
been built.
The growth of Grafton was slow until the advent of the St.

WALSH COUNTY 679
Paul & Minneapolis, now the Great Northern, railway. The ex
tension of the railroad northward from Grand Porks in 1881,
assured the existence of a town there, however. It was chiefly
by reason of its desirability as a point for crossing the Park river
which determined the location of the railroad town. Comstock
& White, the well known townsite promoters, purchased portions
of the claims of T. E. Cooper, Gus Colson and Mons Monson for
the townsite, and the growth of the town from that time was
phenomenal. Judson LaMoure, of Pembina, and Alexander
Griggs, of Grand Porks, became interested in the townsite and
the sale of lots, which was inaugurated immediately after the
wheat crop of 1881 was harvested on the townsite, was brisk from
the beginning. J. A. Delaney acted as sales agent for the town-
site proprietors. The first lots were purchased by F. T. Walker
& Co., C. Hendrickson and Stewart Cairncross. The latter erected
the first store building on the new townsite. The stores which
had been started on the bank were moved southward to the neAV
business centre. Joseph Deschenes and William Brunelle moved
their store from Acton to Grafton. F. T. Walker & Co., in No
vember, opened the Walsh County Bank, which afterward became
the First National. Several machinery houses were started and
other business concerns followed rapidly. When the first train
arrived in Grafton in December the town already had a popula
tion of 400 and about thirty business houses.
Wonderful Growth.
Six months later the population had increased to 1,000, and
within a year from the time the railroad was surveyed to this
point and the town began its growth, its people numbered 1,500.
Grafton was organized as a village in 1882, with W. C. Leistokow
as the president; Edward Hartin, clerk; John Mitchell, justice;
M. Raumin, treasurer ; T. F. McHugh, assessor ; P. J. McLaughlin,
attorney; and W. C. Leistikow, P. W. Wildt and J. L. Cassel,
trustees. So rapid was the growth of the young town that a year
later it was found necessary to enlarge the municipal powers of
Grafton and the city was accordingly incorporated. Stewart
Cairncross was elected as the first mayor, but resigned after serv-

680 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ing nine months. Succeeding mayors have been F. E. Chase,
Joseph Tombs (seven terms), T. F. McHugh, Joseph Deschenes
(four terms), W. N. Smith, H. G. Sprague and John D. Lewis, the
present executive.
Grafton's first newspaper, the "Times," was established in
1882 by H. C. Upham, since deceased.
The first church in Grafton, the Hauges Lutheran, was built
in the spring of 1882.
A son born to Mr. and Mrs. S. Cairncross in 1881 was the first
white child born in Walsh county, and was named Grafton in
honor of the town.
The first school in Grafton was opened during the winter of
1881-2, and was held in a one-room building, with Joseph Cleary
as teacher. The main portion of the now Central School building
was erected in 1884.
The Grafton Volunteer Fire Department was organized in
1884. The streets of Grafton have been lighted by electricity since
1889, and Grafton was the first municipality in the state to own
its lighting plant.
Grafton secured its public water supply by sinking an artesian
well in 1891.
Grafton 's free public library, the first of the kind in the state,
was opened in 1896, with 400 volumes.
The County's Birth.
In 1881 Walsh county was erected by an act of the legislature
out of the southern portion of Pembina county and the northern
portion of Grand Forks county. The county was named after
Hon. George H. Walsh, of Grand Forks. Governor Ordway ap
pointed Hon. George P. Harvey, of Minto; William Code, of
Kensington, and Benjamin C. Askelson, of Grafton, as county
commissioners. The commissioners named Grafton as the county
seat and appointed the following as the county's first officers:
Clerk and register of deeds, N. Upham, Grafton; sheriff, Jacob
Reinhardt, Grafton; coroner, Dr. N. H. Hamilton, Grafton; clerk
of district court, W. A. Cleland, Grafton; assessor, John N.

J. L. CASH EL

WALSH COUNTY 681
Nelson, Swedon; judge of probate, E. 0. Faulkner, Kensington.
For years fur traders traversed this county dealing with the
Indians. The first permanent settlement Avithin the present Walsh
county, however, was not until 1870, when a few settlers located
along the Red river. A town was laid out at "Kelly's Point,"
now known as Acton, in 1878, by Antone Gerarde, who has for
years maintained a ferry across the Red river. A store was
opened there in 1878 by William Budge, W. J. Anderson and J.
Eshelman, of Grand Forks, and another store by Joseph
Deschenes, which was afterAvard moved to Grafton.
John L. Cashel, the subject of this sketch, was born in New
York city, June 24, 1848, of Irish parentage. In 1853 his parents
moved to Springfield, Ohio, and located on a farm near by, where
they remained until the fall of 1856, then going west, overland to
Chicago, 111., where they spent the winter, and moved the fol
lowing spring to Buffalo county, Wisconsin, then a frontier
wilderness. At that time railroad facilities extended no further
west than Dunlieth, 111., or Milwaukee, Wis.
On this frontier farm is where the boy got his training in
education and labor. For fourteen years he labored almost in
cessantly; in the spring time putting in the crops, in the summer
breaking the virgin soil, driving oxen, haying and harvesting,
and in the fall threshing and preparing the ground for the next
year's crop. In the winter he attended the public schools when
time permitted. In the meantime he taught school in his home
district four winters, and held the position of town clerk from
the time he became of age until he moved, permanently, from
there. His advanced education was acquired, at his own expense,
at the University of Wisconsin, the Weyland University, Beaver
Dam, Wis., and the LaCrosse Business College, LaCrosse, Wis.,
where he graduated in the spring of 1871, and the September
following he purchased a half interest in the school and con
ducted it successfully until the summer of 1875, when he disposed
of his interest and engaged in other pursuits.
September 1, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Mar
garet Morris, of LaCrosse, Wis., whose father was one of the
pioneer merchants of that city. This union was blessed with two

682 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
sons; the older, Morris J., was born November 4, 1884, and com
pleted his B. A. course at the University of Wisconsin in the class
of 1908. The younger, John L., was born June 19, 1886 ; he com
pleted the law course at the University of North Dakota, in the
class of 1907, and continued his studies at the University of
Wisconsin. In 1876 he moved to Rochester, Minn., and engaged in the
mercantile business until 1878, when he moved to Faribault,
Minn., and entered the real estate and abstract business until
1881, when he moved to Grafton, Dakota Territory, arriving there
August 31, in advance of the railroad, and purchased the first lots
sold off the town plat. He erected a building, established Octo
ber 1, and was cashier of, the Walsh County Bank, which was
converted, January 1, 1883, into the First National Bank, which
he has conducted as its cashier ever since. This bank is one of
the most substantial and successful in the state, meeting with
the fewest losses and paying the heaviest dividends.
He served six years in the Grafton city council and nineteen
years, without opposition, on the board of education, being its
president during most of that time. He ran for lieutenant gov
ernor on the Democratic ticket in 1896, but Avas defeated. In
1890 he was elected to the state senate as a Republican, was
elected again as a Democrat in 1898, and has since been re-elected
twice without opposition, giving him sixteen years in the state
senate. He has to his credit some of the best laAvs of the state.
He was the principal author and promoter of our present Austra
lian system of voting at general elections. He draughted and
introduced, in the 1901 session, the first primary election bill,
which was lost by a close vote in the senate. Tavo years later
he had Representative Davis, of Ramsey county, introduce the
same bill in the house, which passed there, but Avas again defeated
in the senate. At the 1905 session, Senator Sharpe introduced the
bill which finally passed both houses after a fierce struggle, but
did not apply to congressional, state and judicial offices. In 1907
Senator Sharpe again introduced the Cashel bill, with a few
changes, which passed and became our present primary election
law, with many radical changes, not being equal in merit to the

WALSH COUNTY 683
original bill. Senator Cashel, correctly speaking, is the author
and father of our primary election law.
For eleven years he labored diligently to remove the location
of the Institution for Feeble Minded from JamestoAvn to Grafton.
The constitutional amendment was once defeated at the polls,
and again lost by the secretary of state in neglecting to advertise
it according to law. Disgusted but not discouraged he perse
vered, and had the main building erected tAvo years and a half
and occupied over one year, with seventy-five inmates, before the
constitution Avas amended, locating the institution at Grafton.
While in the senate the opposition recognized him by giving
him the best committeeships, and more of them than any other
member in either house. Through his recommendations, on a
special committee appointed for that purpose in 1901, laws were
enacted that wiped out a deficit of $300,000 that then existed,
and produced a surplus of $75,000 two years later.
He was one of the original promoters of the drainage move
ment of the Red River valley, presiding at a large convention
held at Grand Forks in the winter of 1906, at which he delivered
an able and stirring address, and was elected president of the
Drainage League. In February of that year he succeeded in
convening an international conference to consider the prevention
of the overflow of the Red river and its tributaries. At his solici
tation the premier of Manitoba sent five delegates, the secretary
of the proA7ince, mayors of Winnipeg, Morris and Emerson, and
the provincial engineer. Governor Johnson, of Minnesota, sent
five delegates, South Dakota sent four and North Dakota five.
This was the first international conference of the kind ever held.
Two very interesting sessions were held and a series of strong
resolutions were adopted and addressed to the government of the
United States and the Dominion of Canada, resulting in our gov
ernment making thorough surveys of these streams, followed by
the engineers recommending a system of dams and reservoirs to
prevent the overflow of the Red river, which may produce great
good. In December, 1906, he called a drainage convention at
Fargo, which was largely attended; he was re-elected president
of the league. He had three memorials passed in the state legis-

684 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
lature, praying for assistance to drain the Red River valley and
prevent the overflow of the Red river. He assisted in having the
state constitution amended allowing the state to loan state moneys
on drainage bonds. At the 1907 session he introduced and had
passed many valuable amendments to the drainage law.
He was and is considered one of the most progressive bankers
in the state. He was elected Vice President of the State Asso
ciation in 1905 and was elected its president in 1906. At the
1906 convention he introduced a series of resolutions, which
were unanimously adopted, criticising the Minnesota inspection
of grain at Duluth and the Duluth Board of Trade in its action
in opposing the Wisconsin inspection at Superior and called for a
committee to make an examination of the conditions of our grain
market. He was appointed chairman of the committee. An
investigation was made resulting in a report criticising many of
the methods employed in grading and the dockage of grain with
other methods employed in its handling. He introduced and had
passed in our legislature a strong memorial to the Minnesota
legislature pointing out defects and asking amendments to the
Minnesota grain grading and inspection law, to which the Minne
sota legislature positively refused to comply, its reply being re
ceived the last day of the session when it was too late to answer,
but Mr. Cashel shortly after his return home replied vigorously
in detail, to which Mr. Eva, head of the Minnesota warehouse and
grain inspection, replied; which was answered at once by Mr.
Cashel in unrefuted terms, asking many pert questions which
were never replied to by Mr. Eva. Largely through the results
of his agitation, the Duluth Board of Trade yielded and conceded
the opening of the Superior grain grading and inspection to the
farmers of the Northwest. Mr. Cashel 's annual address as presi
dent of the Bankers' Association was considered one of the ablest
ever delivered before the association and received many flattering
comments from the banking journals throughout the country.
It dealt with many important subjects and offered valuable sug
gestions. He was a Republican until 1893, when he became a Democrat
and has been a staunch one ever since. At the Democratic State

WALSH COUNTY 685
Convention held at Minot in 1906 he was chairman of the com
mittee on resolutions, which presented one of the strongest and
most comprehensive platforms ever brought before the people of
this state. At that convention, against his protests, he was
elected chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee. He
conducted one of the cleanest and most vigorous campaigns ever
conducted in the state, resulting in turning the Republican ma
jority of nearly 33,000 two years before into a Democratic ma
jority for John Burke for governor of nearly 6,000 votes and for
C. J. Fisk for Supreme Judge about 8,500 and reducing materially
the Republican majorities for the balance of the ticket.
He entered into the agitation caused by the great difference
in the price of Durum wheat compared with other wheats grown
in the state. He was elected president of the association at the
first meeting, held at Grand Porks, in March, 1908, which meeting
was followed by another, held at Devils Lake, April 21st, follow
ing, which was largely attended; and steps were taken to thor
oughly investigate the causes of the difference in the price.
Urged by his numerous friends and the progressive element
of the Democratic party, he was a candidate for the nomination to
the United States Senate, which nomination he receiA7ed by a large
majority over his opponent, Honorable W. E. Purcell.
He was one of the three delegates, with the Governor, from
this state, to attend the conference of the governors of the States
called by the President at the White House, Washington, D. C,
May the 13th, 14th and 15th, 1908, to consider the ' ' Conservation
of Natural Resources. ' '
He is a man of positive opinions, fearless in their advocacy,
at the same time granting to others the same rights. He is an
indefatigable worker, earnest and thoroughly reliable; his in
tegrity has never been questioned. He has always been foremost
in advancing public interests for the public good. His advocacy
of drainage and the results produced by his agitation for better
grain grading and inspection has produced more practical results
and substantial benefits to our farmers in particular and the
state in general than has been accomplished by any other man
in the state along these lines.

686 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Thomas E. Cooper was born in England May 29, 1822. His
mother was of Scotch descent, his father was an Englishman, and
held for some years the position of revenue collector in the city
of Dublin. In 1829 the family moved to Stanstead county,
Quebec. They resided in the town of Stanstead many years, and
here both his parents are buried. In 1852 Cooper came west by
lake steamer to Mihvaukee. He folloAved the first railroad to its
terminus at Jefferson, Wisconsin, and worked a farm there for
two years. In 1854 he bought a farm a few rods south from
Avhere the city of Tomah noAV stands. During the years of 1856-7
he held the position of superintendent of schools for the town
ships of Adrian, Greenfield, and Tomah, in Monroe county. In
1858 Mr. Cooper came west again and the next year bought a farm
six miles south of Rochester, Minn. At this time the Colorado
gold fever was at its height and Mr. Cooper with several others
started for the Pikes Peak gold fields. They turned back, hoAv-
ever, at Council Bluffs, not liking the prospect either at this place
or at Omaha, a rising young town across the river. In 1860 he
sold his Wisconsin farm and located at Pine Island, Minn. As
chairman of the board of supeiwisors of Pine Island toAvnship he
dreAV up the resolutions adopted at a mass meeting of citizens
that Avas called to meet w7hen the news of the firing on Fort
Sumter was received. In 1863 after all the single men of his
township had enlisted, he was asked by a merchant, Mr. Thom
son, to fill a draft of 22 men. At a meeting held in the school
house it was decided to raise $2,000 on a joint note signed by the
men who Avere drafted, and then to buy substitutes to fill the
draft. This difficult task Mr. Cooper accomplished to the satisfac
tion of all. He raised the money in Red Wing, Avhere he had
friends, and bought the 22 substitutes in St. Paul, paying as high
as $300 for some of them. The unexpended balance he turned
over to the toAvnship treasurer, Sylvester Dickey. On May 2,
1864, Mr. ..Cooper joined a Avagon train of 122 Avagons bound for
the Montana gold fields. A little below Fort Rice in the present
state of North Dakota, they found General Sully's army in pursuit
of the hostile Sioux. They.Avere transferred to the western side
of the Missouri and then by his advice they accompanied his army

WALSH COUNTY 687
till they had crossed both Yellowstone and Missouri rivers and
"were in the vicinity of old Fort Union. General Sully then re
turned with his army, while the wagon train, after the leader had
tried to hire a Frenchman to act as guide, kept on up to Fort
Benton, in spite of the gloomy predictions of the white trader at
Fort Union. At Fort Benton the wagon train broke up into small
parties, and on September 24, 1864, Mr. Cooper's party camped on
the spot where the city of Helena, Mont., now stands, the oxen
being picketed on the site of the present railway station. In
June of the next year Mr. Cooper returned on a Missouri river
steamboat to St. Louis, and thence by rail to his home. During
the winter of 1865-6 he organized a quartz mining company, of
which later General F. S. Hubbard was the chief stockholder.
During the same winter he went to New York city to arrange for
sale of stock and to purchase a mining outfit. The following
spring he returned to Montana on the steamboat Marion, paying
$300 for his passage from St. Louis to Fort Benton. In 1867,
owing to the failure of General Hubbard, the quartz mining com
pany in which Mr. Cooper had taken such an active part, did not
develop the mining property which they had purchased, and was
later dissolved. In 1870 Mr. Cooper was made a member of the
county committee to meet at La Crosse, Wis., and confer with
the officials of the railroad which was to pass through Pine
Island. During his residence in Minnesota he was a correspondent
of the ' ' St. Paul Pioneer ' ' and the ' ' Red Wing Argus. ' ' The files
of these papers contain many letters written by Mr. Cooper, re
counting his Montana experiences. In December, 1878, Mr.
Cooper removed to Dakota territory, and with characteristic en
ergy at once took the same active part in its development which
he had shown during his residence in the adjoining states. He
was one of the first settlers of the present city of Grafton, Walsh
county, naming the city from his wife's home town in northern
New Hampshire. The first hotel in Grafton was one put up by
Mr. Cooper in 1881, the Cooper House. As chairman of the town
board he carried the first election returns of Walsh county to
Pembina, walking the entire distance with the ballot box carried
over his shoulder. He later held the office of postmaster of

688 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Grafton, 1879-81. He has four children, all living, one son in
Minnesota, and the others in this state, a daughter at Hope and
a son and daughter at Grafton. Like most of the early settlers
in this state Mr. Cooper has retired from active participation in
the affairs of the state and county, but he is still in perfect
health, and takes a lively interest in every effort to preserve the
records of the pioneer days of the northwest.
(Copied by permission.)

CHAPTER XXXIL
POLITICAL HISTORY OF TRAILL COUNTY.
Traill is one of the most important counties in the State of
North Dakota.
The first claim was taken up near the mouth of the Goose
river in the spring of 1870 by George E. Weston. W. J. S. Traill
and Asa Sargeant came about the time time. A. H. Morgan came
in June, 1870.
The first election in what is now Traill county, was held at
the village of Caledonia in November, 1872. The county was
organized in 1875, and was named in honor of W. J. S. Traill.
The first Board of County Commissioners consisted of A. H.
Morgan, Chairman, Jonas Ostlund and John Brown. Of these
John Brown is dead, A. H. Morgan is now a resident of Fort
Worth, Texas, Jonas Ostlund is still living in the city of Hills
boro, and is hale and hearty, although he is eighty years old.
The first meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was
held February 23d, 1875. The first county officers of Traill county
were George E. Weston, Register of Deeds and County Clerk ; Asa
Sargeant, Judge of Probate and County Treasurer; C. M. Clark,
Sheriff; J. C. Paton, Superintendent of Schools; and Thomas
Watts, Coroner and County Surveyor. Of these George E. Weston
and C. M. Clark are dead, J. C. Paton is a resident of the state
of Washington, the whereabouts of Thomas Watts is unknown,
Asa Sargenat has since held the Office of Register of Deeds, and
represented this county in the lower house of the State Legisla
ture, after a residence of thirty-eight years at Caledonia, he has
sold his fine farm and will seek a home elsewhere. The first
school was taught by J. C. Paton, at Caledonia in 1872. The first
689

690 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
newspaper published in this county was "The Hillsboro Banner,"
published in February, 1880. The second was the "MayviUe
Tribune," published December, 1881.
C. W. Morgan of this city, was the first delegate from this
county to a territorial political convention.
Like most of the counties of this state, Traill has had its
share of county seat contests.
On April 5th, 1875, the Board of the County Commissioners
located the county seat where the old court house in the village
of Caledonia now stands.
At the general election held November 5th, 1878, the question
of moving the county seat from Caledonia to MayviUe was voted
upon, MayviUe receiving 238 votes and Caledonia 287. The next
election for the purpose of relocating the county seat of Traill
county was held in April, 1883 : total number of votes cast, 3,262,
of which Caledonia received 450, Hillsboro 795, Traill Center
2,011, and scattering 6. This election was contested in the courts
with the result that the county seat remained at Caledonia, there
being a great many more votes cast than there were voters in the
county at that time.
Another election was held June 2nd, 1883, which while not
directly on the question of relocating the county seat, still had
a very important bearing on that question. This was for the
purpose of a division of the county, taking away the two western
tiers of townships of this county. The vote as canvassed by the
canvassing board was as follows: for division 1,033, against
division 65. The votes of a great many precincts, including May
viUe, RoseviUe, Portland, Garfield, Norman and others not being
canvassed. Prom this time until the spring of 1890 the county
seat question was at rest, as far as voting on the relocation of the
county seat was concerned, but it always had an important bear
ing on the election in the county.
In the spring of 1890 a petition gotten up by the citizens of the
city of Hillsboro was presented to the Board of County Commis
sioners, asking them to request the voters at the November elec
tion of that year to designate upon their ballots the place of their
choice for the county seat of Traill county. At this election

FRANCIS W. AMES

POLITICAL HISTORY OF TRAILL COUNTY 691
Caledonia of course endeavored to hold the county seat. The
cities of MayviUe and Hillsboro, and the village of Buxton en
tered into the contest. At that election the city of Hillsboro re
ceived 1,291 votes, the village of Caledonia 218, the city of May
viUe 206, and the village of Buxton 114.
Shortly after the election, proceedings were commenced by
some residents of the township of Caledonia to prevent the re
moval of the county seat to Hillsboro. Such proceedings were
had that in March, 1891, the county officers and the records were
removed to the city of Hillsboro, the contest to prevent the reloca
tion of the county seat at Hillsboro was carried on in the courts
until a final decision of the Supreme Court in June, 1896, located
the county seat at the city of Hillsboro, where one of the finest
court houses in the state was erected in 1906 and 1907.
Traill county has always been one of the strong Republican
counties. The voters of Traill county have always been strongly opposed
to the liquor traffic. At the elections in November, 1887 and 1888,
under the Local Option law a majority was given each time
against the sale of intoxicating liquors. At the first state election
held October 1st, 1889, a majority was given in favor of Article
Twenty (20) of the Constitution, being the Prohibition Article.
So strong was the opposition to the sale of intoxicating liquors
in this county that in 1886 the third party, Prohibitionists, nomi
nated a county ticket in opposition to the Republican ticket, and
elected all their nominees with the exception of County Attorney.
In 1888 they elected the entire Prohibition ticket. In 1889 they
elected their candidate for Clerk of the District Court, he being
the only county officer voted for at that election. In the year
1890 the Republicans called their county convention for the
nomination of county officers early in the season and nominated
every county officer elected by the Prohibitionists and then in
office except the County Treasurer, who was then serving his
second term and was ineligible for reelection, this disrupted the
Prohibition party for the time being at least, as far as Traill
county is concerned.
The present members of the legislature from the Eighth Legis-

692 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
lative District consisting of this county are: Honorable H. H.
Strom, Senator, Hillsboro, N. D. ; Honorable G. A. White, Port
land, N. D. ; Honorable W. J. Burnett, Cummings, N. D. ; and
Honorable 0. J. Sorlie Buxton, North Dakota Representative.
The present county officers are: County Auditor, Nels 0.
Lindaas, MayviUe; County Treasurer, T. A. Koppang, Portland;
Register of Deeds, Martin J. Nelson, Hillsboro; Clerk of Court,
Barney C. Boyd, Hillsboro ; County Judge, Jorgen Howard, Hills
boro; Superintendent of Schools, B. A. Wallace, MayviUe; State's
Attorney, Theodore Kaldor, Hillsboro; Sheriff, A. J. Osmon,
MayviUe. Board of County Commissioners : A. L. Bingham,
Chairman, Caledonia; Mons Johnson, Cummings; Ole I. Hanson,
Hillsboro ; C. Gullicks, MayviUe ; and S. G. Swenson, Portland.

CHAPTER XXXIII.
RICHLAND COUNTY
By
W. M. House.
Richland county is distinguished for its location at the head of
the world-renowned Valley of the Red River of the North. It is
the southern county of the valley and the southeastern one of the
state. Its area is about 1,440 square miles, being forty-eight
miles in length, and averaging thirty miles in width. Richland
county is well drained and watered by numerous lakes, rivers,
creeks and coulees. There is considerable natural timber along
the streams, and hundreds of farms are growing beautiful groves
of cultivated trees.
The first settlers of the county were a small number in 1867,
but there was practically no agriculture until 1874. The county
organization was made in the summer of 1873. The first com
missioners were J. W. Blanding, chairman, D. Wilmot Smith
and M. T. Rich. The first election in the county was in November,
1873. There was but one voting precinct and the polls were
located at Wahpeton, which had been made the county seat.
Settlement in Wahpeton was first made in 1869. The first settler
was M. T. Rich; the second William Root; the third Polsom Dow'
and the fourth Moses P. Propper. In 1871 the Great Northern
Railway was completed to Breckenridge. In 1880 this railway
was extended through Wahpeton, and in that year the first real
growth of Wahpeton began.
In all the world's history, from that time to this, I can point
to nothing grander than the marvelous historical development of
Richland county. Prosperous cities, many thriving villages, im-
693

694 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
proved farms and splendid farm buildings are found in every
portion of the county. Modern ideas, intelligence, public spirit
and the progressiveness of our people are manifested in agricul
ture and commerce, in manufactures, in the press, in beautiful
churches, in the various professions, in a magnificent annual fair,
and in 250 excellent schools. Such is the result of a little more
than a quarter of a century of agricultural development in Rich
land county.
This result could be produced only by an industrious people,
aided by a very fertile soil and good commercial advantages.
Richland county markets are better than in any other county in
either North or South Dakota. Wahpeton is twenty-six miles
nearer Duluth, and fifty miles nearer Minneapolis than Fargo is.
As to soil and climate, there is no locality on earth that is better
adapted for agriculture than this part of the Red River valley.
Richland county contains forty-five congressional and thirty-
four civil townships. There is room and opportunity for more
who may wish to come. The area of this county is considerably
larger than that of the state of Rhode Island, which has a popula
tion of half a million. (Signed) W. M. HOUSE.
FORT ABERCROMBIE.
Written by Rev. H. E. Crandall Twenty Years Ago.
There is no place within the bounds of Richland county, and
in fact none in the Northwest, that has more historic facts and
interest clustering around it than Fort Abercrombie. It has a
military record that is exceedingly interesting; but all of its
history never can be written, only in what might be called a
fragmentary style. And if we can only gather up the most im
portant fragments they even will be read with great interest
by those who wish to know more of frontier life and the early
dawn of advancing civilization that seems to be marching with
quickened pace towards the golden sunset lands of the far west.
It seems almost impossible to realize that but a few years ago
there was such an important military post as Fort Abercrombie,

RICHLAND COUNTY 695
that figures so largely in the settlement of the country, having
been a point where millions of supplies were shipped from St.
Paul ; where many soldiers were stationed, commanded by officers
of the government who made a grand record for themselves;
a place Avhere the maddened war-like Sioux besieged the citadel
with the flourishing of tomahawk and warclub and the ringing
volleys of the best rifles made in America, as they, from ambush
and treetop used them with the precision of trained sharp
shooters, making many brave Americans bite the dust; and that
now there is hardly a trace or sign of those important events.
The fort has disappeared, and so have many that were engaged
in the conflicts. The old military reservation is now covered
with farm houses, and the tillers of the soil with plow and harrow,
are making the soil laugh with golden harvests ; and the place
where the United States cavalry a few years ago made the earth
tremble with their furious haste to meet the foe ; where the
skulking Sioux with their war paint meant mischief; where the
thousands of buffalo roamed at pleasure, now can be heard the
hum, rattle and music of farm machinery ; and the military camps
have given way to growing towns and cities, and instead of the
Indian war whoop, Ave now hear the shrill whistle of the steam
engine, as it passes over the iron track, with its villages on wheels
heavily freighted with the traA7eling thousands who in palace ears
are crowding our great Northwest to find homes and business
worth looking after.
Fort Abercrombie was established in 1858 on the west bank of
the Red River, noAV in Richland county, and about fifteen miles
from where Wahpeton is located. The post was abandoned after
an occupancy of little over a year, and the property sold at great
sacrifice. It was rebuilt in July, 1860, under command of Major
Day, in July, 1861, the Major with his two companies were ordered
to Washington. Major Markham with his two companies took
command. In 1862 all full regiments were ordered south to join
the United States forces, and Captain Inman, a Baptist clergy
man, was the next in command with companies from the Fourth
Regiment stationed at Port Snelling. He soon left for the front,
crossing the Red River on the ice, when Captain Vanderhosk,
with two companies of the Fifth Minnesota Volunteers took

696 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
command. On the 19th day of August, 1862, the Indian massacre
began at the old town of Breckenridge, where the hotel was
burned and a number lost their lives, among them one by the
name of Russell. In one week the attack was made on the fort.
The stage driver, Charlie Snell, was killed in the hotel at Breck
enridge, and, a chain being fastened around his body, the Indians
dragged it around the well with demon hate until a deep path
Avas made by the repeated operation. The Saskatchewan and
Fort Garry mail bags were gutted and the mail scattered in every
direction over the prairie ; mail from the McKenzie river was also
intercepted. The soldiers with Judge McCauley gathered up as
much of the mail as possible, and it was forwarded to its desti
nation. A family at "Old Crossing" on the Ottertail, sixteen
miles from Breckenridge, was attacked, and a man by the name
of Scott was killed; his mother Avas badly wounded, but was
brought to the fort and cared for until she fully recovered. A
boy about twelve years of age was captured by the Sioux and
carried into captivity, but finally ransomed through the agency
of the Catholic priest and sent to St. Louis to his grandparents.
It is reported that Mr. Stone and Judge McCauley were
lodging together in the fort when there was an alarm that the
Indians were about making an attack, and all were up and ready
in a short time. None were more deliberate and thoughtful at
this time than Judge McCauley, who got out of bed and care
fully attended to his toilet, putting on his paper collar with
excellent precision, and correct adjustment of necktie, AA'hen the
announcement was made that the alarm was false. "No doubt,"
he said, "I was impressed that it was unnecessary to hurry
much." The judge heard of his respect to toilet many times
since; it was a good joke, but he took it all in good part. At
this time some seventy persons had come to seek protection in
the fort and all were ordered to do military duty. A train of
seventy teams of Indian goods and supplies that was going to
Red Lake, came to the fort for protection, and all the men were
organized into a company. It was estimated that there were
1,500 Indians surrounding the fort Avaiting for a good chance
to make a furious assault. For weeks there had been no mail
from St. Paul, or the outside world, and everybody was anxious

RICHLAND COUNTY 697
to know the facts about the extent of the Indian massacre, and
the progress of the rebellion. A brave citizen by the name of
Walter S. Hill, offered to take the chances of carrying the mail to
St. Paul, providing he could be furnished with a fleet horse and
an escort of soldiers to protect him until he was out on the broad
prairie beyond the strip of woods on the creek east of McCauley
viUe. A call was made for volunteers to act as an escort, and
thirty-two responded to the call. At this time there were Indians
in ambush just across the river from the fort, and some had been
using their sharp shooters from the tops of trees. An attack on
the outward bound escort was expected, but all was still and not
the turn of a leaf was heard. Hill was soon flying towards St.
Paul with his fleet charger loaded with news from afar for many
anxious ones who had become weary of looking in vain for many
long weeks. Hill was successful in his undertaking. As the
escort was returning, an attack was made on the brave thirty-
two, and two of the number were shot, Edward Wright and a
soldier by the name of Shulty, and the remainder scattered and
came straggling into fort as best they could. Mr. Shulty, when
found, had his head cut off, also his arms and legs, and he had
been disemboweled by the incarnate demons, his head being
coffined in the abdominal cavity. Mr. Wright was also badly
mutilated, and his father was exceedingly furious at the Post
Commander because he had not prevented the awful tragedy from
taking place. At one time a party was organized to go and drive
stock in, that was some twelve miles below the ferry crossing.
A halfbreed Chippewa gave a warwhoop which was well under
stood by the Sioux, and he was riddled with bullets. A Mr. Lull
was in advance, and was shot through the leg. All turned back
without venturing farther. The firm of Harris, Whitford and
Bentley, who were engaged in the transportation of goods from
St. Paul to this point, and thence by flat boat to Fort Garry, had
a farm south of Abercrombie on the Minnesota side. This was
in 1862. They put in the government herd fourteen yoke of oxen
and eight head of horses for protection, but the wily Sioux sur
rounded and took possession of them by driving them to the
Indian headquarters. The total number of the herd was three
hundred. The first attack having been made, Mr. Whitford in

698 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
company with Mr. Harris, was killed on his way from Fort Garry
to Fort Abercrombie. He had five thousand dollars of the Hudson
Bay Company's drafts. This firm was ruined by the loss of
fourteen thousand dollars; afterward, however, the government
paid the company nine thousand dollars. The fort was besieged
full seven weeks, when about two thousand men under Captain
Burger came to relieve the imprisoned and strengthen the fort.
On the return of a part of this force to St. Paul, about seventy-
five women and children were transported. It appears that
Edward A. Stokes, the man who assassinated Jim Fisk, had been
out on the plains hunting. He came to the fort with others for
protection and was with the escort which was under military pro
tection en route for St. Paul. Truly wonders will never cease.
There were four companies left at the' fort to protect it after
the escort had left, which took place in October, 1862. Captain
Burger took command. He was shortly relieved by Captain
Chamberlin of Hatch's battalion, who was finally superseded by
General C. P. Adams, now of Hastings, Minnesota, who was in
command until 1866. Then Major Hall, of the Tenth United
States Infantry took command, and General Adams was ordered
back to be mustered out of the service. The United States mail
was carried under military escort until the year 1866. The fort
was kept up until 1877, when it was abandoned, and in 1878 the
government buildings were sold and scattered over the prairie
where, with repairs, they made homes for some of the early
settlers. The following named persons were the post commanders at
Fort Abercrombie, from the time of its establishment until it was
abandoned: General Abercrombie, Major Day, Captain Markham,
Captain Inman, Captain Vanderhock, Captain Burger, Captain
Pettier, Major Camp, Captain Chamberlin, General C. P. Adams,
Captain Whitcomb, Major Hall and General Slidell. Changes
were frequent at first, because all were needed south as fast as
they could be spared. The military cemetery near the fort was
the resting place for many who had laid down their arms for
ever, and not a few think it would have been much more in keep
ing with the fitness of things, if the ground had been purchased
by the government, and the city of the dead put in order, and

RICHLAND COUNTY 699
a monument erected in memory of the fallen heroes, and all
surrounded with an iron fence. The government, however, care
fully exhumed and removed them to Fort Lincoln. Seventy-three
graves were opened and all that remained of the earthly taber
nacles was placed in pine boxes and transported to the cemetery
on the Missouri slope. Colonel Tyner, with great care and tender
affection, superintended the removal of the remains of the de
parted, and now the place where our country's brave defenders
slept for a season, is furrowed by the plow for the production
of Avheat and other grains.
Arthur Guy Divet, of Wahpeton, North Dakota, Avas born in
Byron, Olmstead county, Minnesota, on January 10, 1870. His
father is of Irish descent, and his mother is English-Canadian.
The boy lived to the age of nine years in his native county, where
he aided in farm work and attended school.
In 1879 the family moved to Richland county, North Dakota,
and settled on a homestead. The father was always successful
in farming and the boy, Guy, as he was called, attended the rural
school when in session, and assisted in the management of their
splendid farm. He attended the Northwestern Academy at
Madison, Wisconsin, and in 1894 was married to Miss Nora Rus
sell, of Goodhue county, Minnesota. They have two children,
Donovan and Rushby.
In 1896 Mr. Divet was made Court Stenographer of the Fourth
Judicial District of North Dakota. He held this position five
years; was admitted to the bar in 1898, and began the practice
of law at Milnor, Sargent county, in 1901. Two years later he
removed to Wahpeton and formed a law partnership with Hon
orable William E. Purcell, where the firm is still practicing under
the name of Purcell & Divet.
For many years Mr. Purcell has been at the head of the legal
profession in this state. Now, with the younger member of the
firm, A. G. Divet, this law association enjoys a reputation for
integrity and ability second to none in the entire Northwest.
A. G. Divet has had the personal conduct and management of
many of the most important law cases in the state. He is thor
oughly skilled in his profession; is an eloquent orator, and re
markably successful.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
BARNES COUNTY.
Prior to the coming of the railroad, Valley City was known
as Worthington. Trappers made their home here and traces of
their dug-outs can be seen along the river, especially near the
Normal bridge. This village has been visited by soldiers, Indians
and adventurers west bound to the Missouri country. In 1872
the Northern Pacific railroad reached the Sheyenne river, and in
1873 was finished to Bismarck.
In 1873 the county of Burbank, now Barnes county, was
created by an act of the Dakota legislature. The first survey of
lands in Barnes county was made by Charles Scott and Richard
D. Chaney in 1872. The first train crossed the Sheyenne river
at the second crossing of the Sheyenne, September 15, 1872.
Just north of this bridge, the Bismarck trail crossed the river,
but during high water the crossing was made at what is known
as the Rapids, south of the Traeey bridge.
On July 23, 1874, John L. Pennington, Governor of Dakota
Territory, issued to Prank P. Wright, a commission as County
Commissioner, but no organization of the county was made until
August 5, 1878, when Governor Howard appointed Christian An
derson, A. J. Goodwin and Otto Beeker as county commissioners.
At the meeting of the board held January 6, 1879, Messrs. Good
win, Wright and Anderson were present and qualified, Mr. An
derson being chosen chairman.
The first meeting for the organization of the county was held
over the old postoffijce in June, 1878; John Monson, chairman,
and B. W. Benson, secretary. This caucus was called for the
purpose of setting a date for a convention to nominate the first
county officers. At the election held in the fall of that year, the
700

BARNES COUNTY 701
following persons were elected : Sheriff, D. D. McPadgen ; Treas
urer, J. S. Weiser ; Clerk of Court, Colonel Marsh ; Superintendent
of Schools, Otto Becker; State's Attorney, W. F. Ball; Assessor,
Edward Wiley; Justice of the Peace, J. S. Weiser; County Com
missioners, P. P. Wright, A. J. Goodwin, Christian Anderson, the
latter being chosen chairman. James LaDue was appointed Coro
ner, and B. W. Benson Probate Judge. D. D. McPadgen was the
oldest settler in Barnes county, and filed on the first pre-emption
in October, 1873. The first term of court was held November 3,
1881 ; Judge Hudson presiding. The first Grand Jury summoned
from Barnes and Greggs consisted of the following persons:
George C. Getchell, James Fields, G. S. Secrest, Harmon Starkes,
Wylie Neilson, John Holland, 0. S. Rustad, J. E. Smith, John
Lenwig, C. S. Getchell, John Russell, Isaac Ellis, C. C. Rogers,
Frank Stack, Frank Cook, George Marsh, Ira Bennett, and
Joseph Rogers. John Russell was chosen chairman. The first
taxes paid in Barnes county was by B. 0. Salberg, October 7,
1879, on the northwest quarter and southeast quarter of section
23, town 140, range 60.
What was known as the Old Fort Totten trail passes from
north to south through the county, passing the Northern Pacific
railroad about Hobert. During the '70s this trail was much in use
having been made by the moving of government troops. The
Indians in those days kept more to the valley in going to and
from Port Totten. The first postoffice was in the old Pump house
which stood near where the railroad crossing now is on Second
avenue. Thomas Conners, better known as Old Tom, was the
first postmaster. A petition was circulated in 1877 to have the
name changed from Worthington to Valley City postoffice, which
was done. Christian Anderson was appointed postmaster in 1877
and held the office until 1884.
Valley City — Incorporated.
On March 8, 1881, the town was incorporated by a vote of the
people, and the following were elected as trustees : Henry Wald,
H. G. Hause, B. W. Benson, D. McDonald, J. Parkhouse and P. 0.
King. I. J. Anderson, Clerk; George A. Thompson, Treasurer;
Charles Hollinshead, Assessor; Cole Chapman, Marshal; W. E.

702 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Jones, Justice. At the first meeting held March 28, 1881, J. Park-
house was chosen as President. The first annual election of vil
lage officers was held May 2, 1881, and resulted in aU the old
officers being reelected; I. J. Anderson failing to qualify as clerk,
S. B. Coe was appointed on the 11th day of May, 1881. At an
election held April 11, 1883, a city charter was adopted, and on
May 8, 1883, the following city officers were elected: Mayor, C.
A. Benson; Treasurer, D. McDonald; Assessor, Seth Lincoln;
Aldermen, J. S. Weiser, P. O. King, E. A. Sager, 0. P. Emerson,
H. J. House and M. Tracy. L. D. Marsh, City Clerk ; W. E. Jones,
and C. A. Miler, Justices.
In 1886 the special charter was surrendered, and the city was
chartered under the general laws governing cities.
Methodist Episcopal church. In 1881 the Methodist Episcopal
church was organized with the following as trustees : John
McPherson, Joel S. Weiser, William Weiser, Duncan McDonald,
and Christian Shilling. During this year a church was built and
Rev. C. S. Snyder officiated. Previous to the erection of the
church building, services were held in the law building which
stood near the present residence of J. S. Weiser. The first sermon
preached, was by Rev. Huntington, an Episcopal missionary, in
1879. Early in 1881 and 1882, other churches were organized,
among which was the German Methodist. After the incorporation
of the city, Mr. B. W. Benson donated a plat of ground for park
purposes ; some enterprising citizens caused a survey to be made,
and commenced selling the lots surrounding this park site, but
the wide-awake inhabitants seeing the danger, re-purchased the
lots, and in about two years the park was located, and today the
city boasts of the most beautiful natural park in the state, com
prising thirteen acres of heavy timber.
Lodges.
Valley City Lodge No. 7, A. F. & A. M., was organized May 5,
1881, and Valley City Lodge, I. 0. 0. P., was instituted June 11,
1881. The first meeting of both of these lodges was held in the
rooms over John Holmes' store. Sheyenne Chapter was organized
January 3, 1884. All the books and property of the Masonic
bodies were lost in the fire of March 21, 1884.

BARNES COUNTY 703

Newspapers.

The first newspaper established in Barnes county, was the
"Northern Pacific Times," on June 12, 1879, edited and published
by Dr. S. B. Coe. Two years later this paper passed into the
hands of C. P. Kindred, and was changed to the "Valley City
Times." In 1883 C. F. Richardson became editor, and in 1887
J. J. Dobbin became proprietor, and in 1888 the paper passed to
the control of Herbert Root. During Mr. Root's reign, the office
was raided, machinery broken and the type scattered over the
entire city.
The second paper to be established was the "Dakota Patriot,"
on October 6, 1884, by C. B. Vallandigham. The "People's Advo
cate" by D. W. Clark was the next. The first store building was
erected by Arne Oleson in 1877 ; he came from Duluth with Jens
Jensen, better known as John Parkhouse, the first village clerk.
Mr. Oleson still resides in Valley City, while Mr. Jensen is in
Tacoma, Washington. In 1878 J. S. Weiser built the next store,
and soon after Chris Efferman came from Duluth and opened the
first saloon. In the spring of 1878, Joe Padden opened the first
telegraph office, bringing the depot and office on a box car.
Schools.
The first school district organized in Barnes county was at
Dailey 's postoffice in June, 1878. James Dailey, President, H. C.
Bjorke and George Larsman, Directors; John Holland, Clerk;
E. Aas, Treasurer. Charlie Walker taught the first term of school
in this district of Barnes county.
Public Schools.
Three modern brick school houses now accommodate the en
rollment of six hundred pupils. In 1907 fire destroyed every
school but the high school, and before the fire had burned one
hour, quarters sufficient for twice the city's needs were secured,
and in four days every child was again in school with books from
Chicago. Teacher, pupil and janitor have been considered in
the construction of the new buildings which have replaced the
burned ones. Education, morals and health have all been pro-

704 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
vided for. The schools of the city are one of its chief prides. The
high school of Valley City is one of the best in the state, and
graduates a class of from twenty-five to thirty yearly. Besides
the high school, the city has three modern school buildings, two
of which were built in 1908 at a cost of $60,000.00. There is also
one Catholic Parochial school. Normal School.
Chapters could be written of the normal school of Valley City ;
its location and spacious grounds. It is one of the finest educa
tional institutions in North Dakota. Its faculty numbers thirty
efficient instructors, while the student body has increased from
five in 1892, to 537 at the close of 1908. Adding to this school
a summer school and other departments of its work, the
school serves over 1,000 people each year; its income has increased
from $5,000 for the first two years, to about $50,000 per year.
(See Chapter on Higher Education.)
The first hotel was built by C. W. Hakanson, who also owned
the first butcher shop and the first feed stable. B. W. Benson
opened the first real estate office; Ole Knudson was the first
jeweler; A. C. Kasberg the first hardware store; A. G. Hawn the
first drug store; Hiram Walker the first sawmill and feed store;
M. O. Walker ground the first flour and feed; Ole Becker was
the first blacksmith, with offices of Justice of the Peace and
County Superintendent on the side ; C. A. Benson bought the firs*
wheat ; Herbert Root was the first banker ; and the first physician
to open an office was F. H. DeVanp; Fred Adams, the first at
torney; John Holmes, the first civil engineer; John McPherson
made the first brick and Hans Hanson built the first stone wall.
The first marriage was that of C. E. Shilling to Miss Weiser ; the
first white child born in Barnes county was Lizzie Becker, daugh
ter of Otto Becker, and the first white child born in Valley City
was Miss Lillian Weiser, now Mrs. James Neilson.
Old Settlers.
The first settlers and the time of their arrival : D. D. McPad
gen, 1872, now deceased; Tom Conners, 1872, deceased; Jonas
Lee, 1872, Valley City; Thorry O. Leary, 1872, Valley City; F.

HERMAN WINTERER

BARNES COUNTY 705
P. W"right, 1874, Valley City; Colonel Marsh, 1874, deceased;
Con Schroendur, Valley City, and numbers of others.
Valley City, the county seat of Barnes county, is the most
picturesque in the Sheyenne valley, three hundred miles west
from St. Paul and Minneapolis, on the main line of the Northern
Pacific and Sioux railways. The country surrounding is a gentle
rolling prairie, well drained and never fails to produce. This city
has a beautiful park, many costly homes, nice shaded walks, large
business blocks, churches, modern schools and public buildings.
Among the churches are the Methodist, Congregational, Baptist,
Catholic, Episcopal, German Methodist, and Norwegian. The
assessed valuation of the city is $798,184 ; ten churches, two hos
pitals, five newspapers, a commercial club with 100 members,
public library building that cost $15,000 ; armory, auditorium Avith
a seating capacity of 1,500, two theatres, four lumber yards, elec
tric street railway, six hotels and restaurants, six grain elevators,
five agricultural implement houses, several banks, water works
and an electric light plant owned by the city.
Barnes county contains forty-two townships ; all excellent
farm land, upon which is grown all the staple products. In
Barnes county may be found large herds of the finest blooded
stock in the state. The assessed valuation of the county is
$7,936,364, based on one-third actual value. In 1906, 3,449 bushels
of wheat, 1,845 bushels of oats, 574,000 bushels of flax, 833,000
bushels of barley and 110,000 bushels of potatoes were raised in
this county, and 225,000 pounds of butter were produced.
County Treasurer Morton furnishes »ihe following statistics
since 1901. Since that time there have been 34,204 acres of
school land sold for $495,689.04, making an average price per
acre of $14.47. The deferred payments on this amount aggregate
$352,314.70, drawing interest at the rate of 6 per cent ; the amount
of interest due the state in 1908, was $21,138.81. The principal
payments due the state on the same date were $35,352.76. There
were originally eighty-four sections of school lands in this county,
and of these fifty-three and one-half sections have been sold,
leaving thirty and one-half sections, which are leased for hay
and pasture purposes.

706 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
VUlages of Barnes County. Oriska was founded in 1880;
Wimbledon on the Sioux railway, is a thrifty village of 700 peo
ple; Sanborn has a population of 300; Hastings, Rugers, Eckel-
son, Nome, LitchviUe and Kathryn are all grain centers of
Barnes county.

CHAPTER XXXV.
HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY.
By
A. H. Laughlin.
Ransom county is situated in the valley of the Sheyenne river,
in North Dakota, one county removed from the Minnesota state
line, and is bounded on the north by Cass and Barnes, south by
Sargent, east by Richland and west by LaMoure counties. It
contains twenty-four . congressional strips, equal to 864 square
miles or 552,960 acres.
The soil of Ransom county is a deep, dark, rich vegetable
mold or loam on the surface, full of lime and marl, underlaid by
a substratum of clay that is rich in phosphoric acid and carbo
hydrates, which, with the abundant sunshine, renders it capable
of growing far more nutritious meat-producing grains, grasses
and forage crops than the richest lands of the famed prairies of
Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas and Nebraska. By chemical
analysis corn grown here contains from three to four per cent
more nutrition or feed value than that grown in Illinois, and our
durum wheat has become world-famed, thousands of bushels of
it being annually exported, and furnishes flour to make the
famous sandwich of Marseilles, France, that supplies the bread
and luxuries of the tables of many crowned heads of Europe.
The desirability of a locality for a home must depend entirely
on how munificently nature has bestowed it with the essential
features required to make it a pleasant place in which to live
and rear a family, and, also, where a man can steadily accumulate
wealth. Ambition is commendable. No true man will be satisfied
until he can continuously gain in the accumulation of property,
707

708 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
and he cannot be long contented in a home unless the results of
his daily labors show some profits. Certain things are abso
lutely necessary to fit a locality to live pleasantly in, and in
which to gain wealth. Nature must lay the foundation. It must
have good soil, water, good climate, and sufficient rainfall. The
three first must prevail. Irrigation could supply the water, but
generally at a great expense. Where nature has done its share
man can do the rest.
Ransom county is richly endowed by nature with all these
essential things. A man can build a home here and surround it
with all the adornments that make home more beautiful, and
help to make the life of its inmates pleasant. His fields will
respond to the labor of his hands and return ample reAvards.
The soil is fertile and rich in humus, and all of the ingredients
that tend to produce very large crops of cereals, vegetables, fruit
and grasses of the finest quality. There is not a crop gro-wn in
any temperate climate that does not flourish here. Phosphoric
acid, the element that makes our live stock vigorous, nervy and
desirable for all domestic uses, and gives to man that energetic
force that has gained him the true appellation of "a Dakota
hustler," is found in our soil in larger percentage than in any
other, excepting the Volga region of Russia. Water is abundant,
and there are natural springs all through the county. It is
obtainable within a depth of from ten to 125 feet, and is of the
best and carries in solution enough mineral properties to render
it healthful and invigorating. Hundreds of artesian wells are
now flowing good pure Avater, found at a depth of from 500 to
800 feet.
The climate is a most desirable one. Animal and plant life
must have sunshine to insure a vigorous, healthy growth. We
have this here in abundance. There are no fogs, no damp drizzly
periods, and no heavy, damp air to encourage pneumonia,
diphtheria and kindred ills. There are more days of bright sun
shine in North Dakota than in any other place in the
United States. The air is dry and rarefied, and cold does
not take hold of man or beast as it does in the eastern states.
No person has ever frozen to death in Ransom county, and stock,
especially horses, Avill live out on the prairies all winter without

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 709
shelter. No one thinks of putting blankets on horses in the
stables at night, as they do in the east. The writer has lived in
the state twenty-seven winters, and of these, only five have been
cold, and but one severe. The others have been almost without
snow and warm and pleasant. The air is remarkably exhilarat
ing. No lung diseases in man or beast generate here.
The annual rainfall is ample as it generally comes in the
season necessary to produce good crops. When it rains it gen
erally pours, instead of drizzling along for days, making life a
burden. Almost the whole attention of the farmers until recent years
Avas turned to flax and wheat, but large crops of other cereals
are noAV grown. Wheat has yielded as high as fifty-two bushels
per acre. Oats ran up to 116, with seventy bushels the general
average. Flax frequently went from twenty to thirty-one bushels
per acre, barley as high as eighty bushels, and speltz as high as
eighty-six. Corn usually yields from forty to sixty bushels to the
acre, millet is always a heavy and a sure crop. North Dakota
has long been noted for its excellent corn. Away back in 1805,
Lewis and Clark, while wending their way up through North
Dakota, found large quantities of corn raised by the Mandans,
Grosventres and Arrikaree Indians, and in the report of their
explorations say that they "placed much store by the corn they
obtained from the Indians, and but for that food supply they
could not have made a success of their expedition with the means
at hand." During the last ten years the farmers have found
out that our soil and climate is well adapted to the growth of a
cereal grain that has been successfully grown here by the abor
igines no doubt for hundreds of years, and it had formed a large
proportion of their food supply, namely, corn.
Fruit is receiving its merited attention. Apples of the hardy
varieties, plums, cherries, are now being grown here, several
orchards having been bearing for twenty years. All fruit grown
here is exceedingly fine in flavor. Strawberries flourish and are
large and luscious.
Garden vegetables of all kinds grow in profusion and are
noted for their excellent quality.
The native grasses grow in abundance and are most nutri-

710 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
tious. Stock will graze on them and thrive during the winter
as well as in summer. Timothy, clover, blue grass, alfalfa and
Australian brome grass flourish here.
Diversified farming has become the rule among farmers in
Ransom county. They have more good horses, hogs, sheep and
cattle, than any other county in the eastern part of the state.
There is a large herd of registered galloways and one of Red
Polls in the county. They have furnished 174 sires to other
farmers here, while many have been sold elsewhere. Stock rais
ing is a most profitable business, because with free grass and
cheap forage, it costs but little to mature it. Dairying is for the
same reason very profitable and successful. Private dairies are
numerous. Creameries are now in operation at Lisbon, Fort
Ranom, Sheldon and McLeod, and much cream is shipped to La
Moure and the Twin Cities. One farm sold $771 worth of butter
in 1901, from an average of twenty-one cows, besides raising nine
teen calves and 124 pigs. There is no branch of farming more
remunerative. The product of our dairies command the highest
market price. These new creameries will revolutionize agri
cultural methods in Ransom county, and double the value of
every acre of her soil within the next five years. The mild-eyed,
gentle coav is at last recognized and given her proper place in the
front ranks of the steady, rapid, onward march of progress and
prosperity. Every enlightened, progressive nation of the world
has dairying for its corner-stone of agricultural prosperity, and
every nation that does not award to the cow her well-earned
position, is to-day semi-barbaric. It requires intelligence to be a
good dairyman.
Fuel is plenty. Wood is shipped in from Minnesota at from
$5.00 to $9.00 per cord. Hard and soft coal comes via Duluth,
and is as cheap as elsewhere, with corresponding freight added.
Lignite is furnished from North Dakota mines at about $4.00 per
ton, and makes very satisfactory fuel.
The prairies of Ransom county are covered with a rich drift
of black alluvial loam from one to four feet deep, underlaid by
a porous clay sub-soil, which has the property of holding moisture
to a remarkable degree. It contains an inexhaustible supply of
soil and ingredients most valuable for the growth of all cereal

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY" 711
grains, which actually increase with the depth, so that, as the
surface strata become exhausted, with proper deep tillage its
fertility will be replenished by stores of nourishment from be
neath for centuries to come. Its fertility is remarkable. Cereal
grain has been grown upon the same land in some instances for
twenty-eight years without manure or rotation, and large yields
obtained, especially of Durum wheat, as high as thirty-eight
bushels per acre. One field yielded eighty-six bushels of speltz
per acre for the twenty-seventh crop.
Land A'alues are rising rapidly. Farms which five years ago
could be bought for $15.00 per acre are now being sold at $50.00
per acre. Nearly every train during summer brings in land
seekers from the South and East, and nearly all of them buy.
The crowded population of the East must seek homes in the
West. The young birds must leave the parent nest, mate, and
seek to build up homes for themselves. There is no more favored
spot in Avhich to build these new homes than in the shady groves
along the Sheyenne river, or on the fertile prairies of Ransom
county. Where only a few years ago, the buffalo roamed these
prairies in countless herds, and the noble red man reigned
supreme in uncultured prowess, the footprints of the pioneer
have been followed by the plow and the hoe of the settler until
these rich fertile plains, once condemned by General Hazen, and
others, as unfit for the habitation of white men, have been trans
formed into a garden spot of wealth production, and Ransom
county is now famed as the best locality for intensive and diversi
fied farming of any in the Northwest, and she is most propi
tiously blessed with prosperity.
Transportation facilities are ample. The Fargo and South
western branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad crosses the
county east and west, and connects with the main line at Fargo,
fifty-six miles from Lisbon. The Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault
Ste. Marie Railway traverses angling through the eastern part
of the county, giving direct connection with the Twin Cities. An
other line to cross the county north and south, called the "Farm
ers' International Railway," is now in contemplation, and will
soon be built.
The Sheyenne river traverses this county in a very tortuous

712 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
course, entering the county in the northwest corner in section 2,
township 136, range 58, it meanders in a general southwest direc
tion through eight congressional townships to within six miles
of the south line of the county, thence in a northeasterly course,
crossing the east county line six miles south of the northeast
corner of the county and pursues the same onward way, dis
charging its waters into the Red River of the North about twelve
miles north of Fargo. It runs parallel with and only about six
miles west of the Red river for a distance of over forty miles.
The valley of the stream in Ransom county is generaUy narrow,
averaging about one mile and a half wide, and is bordered gen
erally by high and in several places abrupt bluffs, seamed and
furrowed with deep gulches and ravines, and the whole course of
the river is skirted with a thrifty growth of native timber, con
sisting of the burr oak, white ash, yellow ash, basswood, poplar,
boxelder, hackberry, plums, choke cherry, hazel, black haws,
prickly ash, red and yellow ozier, ironwood, buffalo berry, cotton
wood, wild grape, ivy, woodbine, gooseberry, raspberry, etc.
The Sheyenne river traverses Ransom county with all its wind
ings a distance of 110 miles, and the valley is very picturesque
and beautiful. Numerous spring rivulets unite with the river
from both sides along its entire course through the county. The
bed of the stream lies about 100 feet below the average level
of the prairie. The river rises on the same section in Wells
county as the James river, whose water finally mingles with the
brine of the ocean in the Gulf of Mexico, while the current of
the Sheyenne carries nutrition to feed the fish in Hudson Bay.
It drains a large tract of country, and in the spring, following a
heavy snow fall, carries down a tremendous volume of water,
yet it never overflows its channel to flood the valley, and no
damage has yet been done by floods in this county.
Old Landmarks.
Standing Rock is a high eminence on section 6, township 136,
range 57. It is named from a large stone in the center of the
channel of the Sheyenne river, which was an object of worship
by the Indians, and has engravings, among which is the picture of
man, beast and bird, or Indian buffalo and eagle, peculiar to the

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 713.
Sioux nations. On the top of a high knoll on the bluffs a mile
north of this, the soldiers of the Sibley expedition set up a granite
rock about two feet square by six feet long, and it is erroneously
supposed that the name "Standing Rock" is taken from this
stone. The above rock is visible to the naked eye from the
Northern Pacific Railroad on top of the hill east of Valley City,
a distance of twenty-five miles.
"Bear's Den Hillock," near old Fort Ransom, is a historic
landmark, commanding a fine view of the prairies for miles.
"Okiedan Butte" — "point of view" — is a noted high mound
on section 35, Island Park township, five miles south of Lisbon,
as it is near the crossing of the Port Abercrombie and Port Ran
som, Fort Sisseton and Fort Totten military roads, and the
Overland Oregon Immigrants' trail. Colonel Creel, of Devils
Lake, then in the United States regular army, in the early sixties
had his command surrounded by an immense herd of buffalo and
had to wait se\7eral hours for them to pass. He stood on Okiedan
Butte for over four hours with his field glass, watching the herd
pass. It was a solid moving phalanx extending in every direction
beyond the vision of the glass. He estimated the herd at several
hundred thousand. They were on their annual migration south
to spend the winter. Numerous other monuments of stone mark
the high prominences along the bluffs of the Sheyenne near
Indian villages and emigrant camps. All of these lookout
mounds were marked by a monument of rocks. Upon them have
stood many a trapper, hunter and scout, scanning the landscape
for the approach of the redskins, many an officer and boy in
blue, watching for danger that might be lurking near, many a
cowboy searching for "strays" in the roundup, many a moc-
casined "poor Lo," peering into the distance with blood-thirsty
eye, anxious for the scalp of his foe, many an overland immigrant
wending his westward way to plant civilization on the shores of
the Northern Pacific, many a pioneer advance agent of empire
builders, and many a sojourner settler watching within the small
fortress of rocks through the long silent hours of night, with
vigilance, to guard the lives of his loved ones encamped near by
and protect his property that must be preserved for the founda
tion of his home.

714 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
The Maple river, a branch to the Sheyenne, pursuing the same
general course as the latter, enters the county in Liberty town
ship at its extreme southern bend and passes through sections
1, 2, 3 and 4. Although smaller than its parent stream, it is
important as a drain for surplus surface water, and the pure
water it brings the settler. It has its place in history, as every
army and expedition that passed through in the early days
sought the stream and followed its banks as far as possible for
the essential supply of drinkable water. Dead Colt creek, so
named by the early trappers, rises on section 34, in township 122,
range 56, Aoavs northeasterly into the Sheyenne at its extreme
southern bend. Springs feed it for several miles back from the
river. The current is rapid and it serves a good purpose as a
drain. Bear creek courses along the whole west line of the
county, crossing it in many places, and is also fed by springs. It
drains a large area and discharges its waters into the James river.
Several small brooks fed by permanent springs flow into these
streams from both sides.
All of the above named streams abound in the kind of fish
common to the waters of the Northwest and great quantities are
caught each year. One sturgeon Aveighing eighty-four pounds
and a catfish weighing fifty-six pounds have been taken from
the Sheyenne.
There are two good water power flouring mills on the
Sheyenne river that have been in operation for over tAventy-five
years, one at Fort Ransom, and one at Lisbon.
None of the streams of Ransom county carry brackish Avater,
and none go dry during the summer. Several small lakes are
found in the county. Starting just south of Fort Ransom is a
long broad slough, named the Big slough, AAThich runs south
across the county line. It is a succession of large and small
ponds connected by a sluggish current, with marshes interven
ing, and bordering the ponds. These marshes are covered by tall
grass and wild rice. It is a great rendezvous for AA'ild ducks,
geese and brants, and thousands are taken there annually. It is
a famous camping place of the sportsmen. The water from its
overflow reaches the James river. The valley of the Big slough
is about four miles wide, and the rise of ridge that marks its

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 715
eastern border is the watershed that divides the waters flowing
north into Hudson Bay from those flowing south into the Gulf
of Mexico. Through the center of the valley its entire length is
a deposit of sand and gravel. No doubt this slough is the ancient
bed of the Sheyenne river, which then flowed south until the tail
of the comet that struck our earth at the time of the "flood"
deposited the large bank of debris at Fort Ransom, damming the
stream and changing its course.
The Sheyenne river is one of the most historic streams in the
Northwest. It takes its name from the nation of Indians that
once made its valley their home and cultivated large fields of
corn along its borders in the Seventeenth century. One branch
of the Sioux nations, the Yanktonnais, called it " Sha-e-ye-na, "
the Minnesota Sioux, " Sha-e-ap-e. " On a map printed in 1850
found by the writer in the museum of the Minnesota State Histor
ical Society, it is spelled "Shay-en-no-ja." The meaning of the
word in the Sioux tongue is "Speaking differently" — or "they
who speak a different language from ours." The headquarters
or capital of the Sha-e-ye-na nation was at the extreme south
bend of the river.
There is a great variety of soil in Ransom county. The south
eastern portion is level and has been too wet for farming, but the
tri-eounty drain put in within the past two years by the three
counties of Ransom, Richland and Sargeant, carries the surplus
water into the Sheyenne and Wild Rice rivers, and has made
the southeast corner township, Rosemead, and about eighteen
sections joining on the north, some of the most fertile lands in
the West. North of this valley or flat is a ridge of sand dunes,
once considered almost worthless, but now a large part of this
land is under cultivation and the homes of settlers dot the land
scape. In the early eighties these hills were covered with a
growth of native timber, and large game, bears, wolves, deer, elk
and antelope, were numerous. Now nearly all the timber has
been cut by the settlers, many of them coming from twenty-five
to thirty miles for it. Could these hills talk they could unfold
many interesting tales of Indian encounters and battles between
contending tribes.
With the exception of this range of hills and the strip of

716 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
land bordering the Big slough and sharp clay bluffs along the
streams, the whole of the county is first-class soil and good tillable
land. Through the center of the county north and south cover
ing two-thirds of its area is as productive and fertile soil as can
be found in the United States. There is no waste land in the
county, as even the highest points of the bluffs along the
Sheyenne are good for grazing. Fort Ransom.
Fort Ransom, located on section 12, township 135, range 58,
is now in ruins, but the old cellars, graves and earthworks, are
still distinct. The earthworks is in the form of a quadrangle
about 200 by 300 feet in dimensions, and the remains of the
powder magazine are still plain. The embankment of the earth
work is covered with grass and in many places is still five feet
high. The fine spring walled up by the soldiers sends its pure,
cold waters forth as of old, clear as crystal. Some of the stone
placed by the boys in blue still remain. Could they but tell us
all who have kneeled on them to quench the thirst and moisten
parched lips. This spring is at the bottom of a ravine about a
quarter of a mile west of the earthwork on the north half of the
southwest quarter of section 11-135-58. It is about ninety feet
below the fort site. It may be formed by seepage from the Big
slough, which starts about one mile south.
The site of the fort stands about 250 feet above the bed of
the Sheyenne river and commands a most picturesque and beau
tiful view of the valley and stream for six miles north. On the
crest of the bluff overlooking the valley are six graves, still open,
walled up with masonry. The bodies of these historic dead were
removed soon after the abandonment of the fort. The writer
can not yet find the names of those once entombed.
Bear's Den Hillock, so named by the Sioux, rises immediately
from the ravine on the west side of the spring to the height of
about 160 feet. On the top of the hill the soldiers had two
cannon planted.
Port Ransom was established June 18, 1867, by Companies
"G" and "H," Tenth Infantry, United States Regulars, under
command of Captain George H. Crossman, Tenth Infantry, and

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 717
the troops Avere withdrawn May 26, 1872, and the fort was not
regarded as a military post after July 31, 1872. It was built as
one of the line of fortifications to guard the western march of
settlement and national development, and was named after Gen
eral T. E. G. Ransom, a brave Illinois officer of the volunteers,
who was killed during the War of the Rebellion. The buildings
and equipment were moved by Hon. Don Stevenson, a famous
government freighter, in July, 1872, with one ox train, to Fort
Seward, near Jamestown, N. D.
Other troops than the Tenth Infantry occupied the fort, as
shown by the following report, for which, with other data, the
writer is indebted to the kindness of the United States War
Department. "Information given by Brevet Major L. M. Kellogg, captain
Twentieth Infantry, August, 1869 ; the commanding officer at the
time. "Location.^6° 37' ; longitude from Greenwich, 97° 30'. Post-
office, Fort Abercrombie, Dakota territory ; McCauleyviUe, Minn.,
sixty-five miles distant, the nearest town or settlement.
' ' Quarters. — For 200 men, built of logs ; in good condition for
summer use, but require to be ceiled and plastered to be com
fortable for winter use. Officers' quarters built of squared logs,
generally in good condition, some repairs needed. Accommo
dation for seven officers.
"Store-houses. — Quartermaster's, 1; 100x20 feet. Com
missary, 1; 100x27 feet, with cellar 40x20 feet. Granary,
40x25x12 feet. All built of logs and in good condition.
"Hospital, Guard-house, Etc. — Hospital, 40x33x10 feet, built
of logs, is now being ceiled and plastered, which, when finished,
will leave it in good condition. Hospital store-room, 20x20x10
feet, built of logs, in good condition. Guard-house, 30x20x10 feet,
built of logs, in good condition. Adjutant's office, 30x16x10 feet,
built of logs, not plastered, in fair condition. Block-houses, two ;
29x21x13 feet each, built of logs, no floors. Laundresses' quar
ters, 6; 15x30x10 feet each, built of logs, in fair condition.
Blacksmith's shop, 40x12 feet, built of logs, in fair condition.
Ice house, 30x25x6 feet, stone and earth, good condition. Root
houses, two stone and earth, 25x15x8 feet, condition good.

718 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
"Supply Depots, Etc. — The nearest quartermaster and sub
sistence depots are at St. Paul, Minn., 320 miles distant. The
route of supply is by rail to St. Cloud, then by wagons via Fort
Abercrombie ; obstructed during the winter season. Best season
for transporting supplies is the summer.
"Subsistence. — Two years' supply is usually kept on hand?
at present there is thirty months' supply on hand.
"Water and Wood. — The post is supplied by Avater from a
never-failing spring, 500 yards distant. Wood supplied by con
tract, and also by the labor of the troops.
"Indians. — Nearest Indians are the Yanktonnais, Cut-Heads,
Sisseton and Wahpeton bands of Dakota Sioux.
"Mines. — None are knoAvn in the vicinity of the post.
"Communication. — BetAveen post and nearest tOAvn is by
Avagon road.
"Reservation. — The reservation on which the post is situated
has not been declared by the president. 100 square miles held
reserved, as described and announced in General Orders No. 42,
Headquarters Department of Dakota, dated May 18, 1869.
"Description of Country, Etc. — Rolling prairie with many
small ponds and lakes scattered over it ; nearly all the land is
well adapted for grazing, and some of it is doubtless arable.
Soil black, sandy loam. The valleys, especially the bottom-lands
of the Sheyenne river, are exceedingly fertile, and Avould produce
bountiful crops of spring wheat, oats, barley and potatoes, and
also the early varieties of corn. The post has a fair garden ; pota
toes, beans and peas, the principal vegetables. On the reservation
there are extensive meadow-lands, the grass being of the tall,
coarse, prairie kind. Timber abundant; confined mostly to the
valley of the Sheyenne ; oak, elm, ash and bass-Avood. Sand and
clay, suitable for making brick, are found in the vicinity; also
stone, suitable for making good lime. The Sheyenne riA7er is gen
erally fordable in most places, and has no great rise. The health
of the locality is good; average temperature for eight months,
from December. 1868, to July, 1869, inclusive, 34.39°. No settle
ment in the vicinity, excepting two isolated ranches, between the
post and Fort Abercrombie."
The old Fort Ransom military reservation, an area ten miles

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 719
square or 64,000 acres, was nearly all in Ransom county. It was
reserved under General Order No. 42, May 18, 1869, and declared
by Executive Order of January 11, 1870. It was surveyed into
townships and sections by Wm. H. H. Beadle in August, 1880.
under order of Henry Esperson, then United States Surveyor
General. I. J. Oliver, John Oerding and John A. Watts, then
residents in the Sheyenne valley, Avere the chainmen. It was
opened for settlement in 1887, but all the papers were not sent
from the War Department to the Department of the Interior for
file in the General Land Office until September 24, 1898. General
Order No. 42 described the reservation as to location in "Latitude
46° 31' 27" N., Longitude 97° 54' W., on Sheyenne river, seventy-
five miles aboA-e junction with the Red River of the North, and
sixty miles west of Minnesota state line, within the 40-mile
limit of N. P. R. R. grant."
Geographically, there Avere several changes in the territory
embraced in Ransom county. On a map printed in 1850, when
Dakota was a part of Minnesota territory, is Mah-kah-tah
county, embracing a strip from the 47th parallel of latitude on
the north to the present south line of Ransom county, and from
the Mississippi river on the east to the Missouri river on the
Avest ; a strip about fifty miles wide and quite long. On the map
the Shayennoja river is clearly and accurately defined, as are
also the Maple riArer and Dead Colt creek, Okiedan Butte and
Dead Colt hill, a high point near the Aliceton Norwegian Church.
"Mah-kah-tah" is a misspelling of the Sioux word "Ma-ka-ta,"
meaning blue earth or rich soil, given to this region on account
of the large gardens and cornfields of the Sheyenne Indians, who
occupied this strip and were good agriculturists, farming only
the best land.
By act of the territorial legislature of April 24, 1862, two
counties were created, Stevens and Sheyenne. Stevens county
is officially described as beginning at a point in the center of the
Red River of the North, where the north line of township 134
crosses said river, thence west to the west line of range 62,
thence north to the north line of township 144, thence east to said
river, thence south along the center of the channel of said river
to the place of beginning. Sheyenne county, beginning at the

720 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
southeast corner of the county of Stevens, thence south along
the center of the Red river to the northeast corner of Deuel
county (head of Lake Traverse), thence west to the west line
of range 62, thence north to the southwest corner of Stevens
county, thence east to the place of beginning. This division cut
Ransom county in two on the east and west center line.
Pembina county, created January 9, 1867, began in the main
channel of the Red river at the mouth of the Wild Rice, up the
Red to the mouth of the Sheyenne, up that river to Poplar
Grove, thence to "the place of stumps" or Lake Chicot, thence
to the head of Salt river, thence due north to the international
boundary, east to the Red, and to point of beginning.
County Organized.
Ransom county was created by act of the territorial legis
lature at Yankton, on January 4, 1873, being taken from Pem
bina county. It originally covered range 59, which was after
wards detached and made a part of LaMoure and Dickey coun
ties. When they were formed Ransom county also embraced the
whole of Sargent county, and retained it until after the organiza
tion and first general election. By an infamous act of the
territorial legislature of March 4, 1883, the county was cut half
in tAvo and the south half named ' ' Sargent. " At an election held
in that part of the county on the 9th of April, 1883, a vote was
taken which ratified the formation of Sargent county. It stood
135 in favor of division and twenty-five against it. Only the
residents of the present Sargent county were allowed to Arote,
but of course the majority was augmented by the territorial
custom of transient importations. Ned, Dick and Harry, could
vote in those days if they were on the right side.
By legislative act of February 7, 1877, Ransom county was
attached to the county of Richland for judicial and recording
purposes. On March 7, 1881, Governor Nehemiah G. Ordway appointed
Frank Probert, Gilbert Hanson and George H. Colton, county
commissioners of Ransom county. These men were selected by
Joseph L. Colton, the founder of Lisbon, and the condition of

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 721
their appointment Avas that they should locate the county seat
at Lisbon, and appoint Mr. Colton 's friends as the first officers.
The first meeting of the commissioners was held on the 4th
of April, 1881, at Lisbon. Frank Probert was chosen chairman
of the board. At the meeting the next day the county seat was
located at Lisbon, where it still remains. No "county seat re
moval" fight had yet disgraced this county.
At this meeting the following officers were appointed
Register of deeds and ex-officio county clerk, Joseph L. Colton
sheriff, George H. Manning; judge of probate, J. P. Knight
treasurer, John Kinan ; coroner, W. W. Bradley ; county superin
tendent of schools, Eben W. Knight ; assessor, Marcus A. Smith ;
surveyor, E. Coombs Prindall; deputy sheriff, A. H. Moore; con
stables, John H. Oerding, Solomon Robinson, Orlando Foster and
Edward Ash; justices of the peace, Peter H. Benson, Thomas
Olson, Amos Hitchcock and Thomas Harris, Sr. Joseph J.
Rodgers was employed as counsel for the board of commissioners.
Bonds were fixed for the officers and they were given until the
14th to furnish their official bonds and qualify. The "Fargo
Republican" was made the official paper until a paper should
be published in Ransom county. April 14th the board met again
and the "Lisbon Star," Herbert S. Harcourt, editor and pro
prietor, was made the official paper. County license for the sale
of intoxicating liquor was fixed at $50.00. May 17th it was
changed to $200.00, and Cyrus B. Nichols was granted the first
license. Of all the people mentioned above, only four are still
residents of the county, viz.: Frank Probert, Gilbert Hanson,
Thomas Harris, Sr., and Edward Ash. All the others are de
ceased or scattered.
The register of deeds had trouble in getting the records of
Ransom county from the register in Richland county and he was
instructed April 16, to institute whatever legal proceedings
might be necessary to procure and obtain the possession of the
records of Ransom county. At this meeting the first bridge over
the Sheyenne rive was authorized, to be constructed at the north
end of Main street, in Lisbon. September 5th, 1881, the com
missioners placed the valuation of all taxable land in Ransom

722 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
county at $2.50 per acre, the total value amounting to $410,112,
and the county tax was fixed that year at 16.9 mills.
At the first election held in the county on November 7, 1882,
the total number of votes polled was 643, and the following ticket
was elected by the number of votes here given.
J. B. Raymond, delegate to congress  641
B. W. Benson, member of assembly, Valley City .... 608
E. A. Williams, member of assembly, Bismarck. . . . 643
J. C. Nickens, member of council, Jamestown  589
W. F. Ball, district attorney, Fargo  643
A. H. Laughlin, register of deeds  452
A. H. Moore, sheriff  433
A. C. Kvello, treasurer  643
T. V. Phelps, assessor  614
Nancy G. Herring, superintendent of schools  413
A. B. Herrick, coroner  337
M. E. Severance, surveyor  350
W. F. Bascom, judge of probate  619
M. L. Engle, county commissioner  402
D. F. Ellsworth, county commissioner  443
Randolph Holding, county commissioner  407
Webb E. Watrous, justice of the peace  261
L. A. Froeling, justice of the peace  269
D. D. Maekinster, justice of the peace  394
E. J. Ryman, justice of the peace  289
A. Poster, constable  416
W. Grieves, constable  411
E. Waldref , constable  272
C. Meyer, constable  271
Lisbon for county seat  521
Of the above county officers the only one still a resident of
the county is the writer.
On the 13th of November, 1882, the board purchased block
4, of Burhyte's second addition to Lisbon, for a court site, and
soon after advertised for bids to build a court house. The bids
were opened February 23, 1883, but all were rejected, and the

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 723
proposition of John Kinan to lease the building adjoining his
store for the use of the county officers was accepted at a rental
of $50.00 per month.
Upon the division of the county, D. F. Ellsworth and Ran
dolph Holding, being residents of that part of the county cut off,
J. Lincoln Green and Marshall P. McArthur were appointed as
commissioners in their place. Clara 0. Pindall was appointed
superintendent of schools in place of Nancy G. Herring, and H.
S. Oliver, assessor in place of F. V. Phelps, for the same reason.
Mr. Green failed to qualify and Scott W. Sanford, of Sheldon,
was appointed in his stead on June 3, 1883. From the date of the
division of the county until this time there was no session of the
board, as the last official act of Mr. Holding was a motion to ad
journ sine die, which prevailed, and there was no legal way to
hold another meeting until they were called together by the
county clerk. In this instance the latter officer took his time
and the county took a rest.
The semi-annual report of County Treasurer Kvello, ending
June 30, 1883, showed receipts from all sources, $20,761.82; ex
penditures, $15,568.25.
The question of building a court house was again brought
before the county commissioners by the board of trade of Lisbon
with a petition asking that it be put to a vote of the people
November 4, 1884, and to issue bonds for that purpose to the
amount of $35,000, but no vote was taken until November 8,
1887, when it was lost by a vote of 440 for and 657 against. This
was a political scheme pure and simple, engineered by W. D.
Boyce, now a millionaire publisher, of Chicago, then the editor
and owner of the "Dakota Clipper," which is now the
"Gazette." The deal was to hoodwink the board of trade into
circulating this petition and passing a resolution, which was
spread on the records of the proceedings of the board of county
commissioners to get the "Star Gang" on record in favor of
bonding the county, so as to kill it off at the next election. It
worked admirably, as the voters of this county were pronounced
against putting a debt on the county, and the party or clique
that fathered any such indebtedness died at the polls. Again
in the fall of 1897, the proposition for the building of a court

724 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
house was lost by a majority of 318 votes. No bonds have ever
been issued for building county buildings.
August 26, 1884, the county was divided into five commission
ers' districts, and W. H. White and George W. Avery were added
to the board by appointment.
Prior to April 13, 1885, the register of deeds was ex-offieio
county clerk, and as clerk had to perform all the duties of the
present county auditor, and part of the work of the clerk of the
court, at a salary of $600. On that date R. N. Stevens was ap
pointed the first county auditor and was elected to the same
position in the fall of 1886.
The surA'ey of Ransom county was made as follows : First,
the meridian lines and standard parallels were determined by
solar survey, under contract with the United States government.
Then another contract laid out the townships, and other con
tractors outlined the sections. In the early survey, square stakes
with the numbers of four sections, the township and range
plainly cut, were driven two feet deep into every section corner
mound. Each corner had a hole two feet square and one and a
half deep dug on each of the four sections marked. Quarter-
section mounds had no stakes, but each had two holes, one on
each side of the section line. Later surveys used marked stones
instead of stakes.
Rollin J. Reeves, under contract with General Beadle, dated
August 17, 1870, surveyed the east line of the county, re-surveyed
the seventh guide meridian from the eighth to the ninth standard
parallels, completing it September 26, 1870. C. H. Bronson, W.
W. Oldham, Grove Buel, James C. Blanding, chainmen ; Benjamin
Muchon, flagman; Thomas McDaniel and H. E. Sturdevant,
mound builders. The field notes were sworn to and acknowl
edged before J. R. Hanson, clerk of the supreme court, D. T.,
December 7, 1870, at Yankton.
George G. Beardsley, under contract dated July 5, 1872, with
Wm. P. Dewey, United States Surveyor General, surveyed the
ninth standard parallel, which is the north county line, from the
seventh to the eighth guide meridian, or the east and west ends
of the county, as we then included range 59, and completed it
August 1, 1872. The eighth standard parallel, or south line, was

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 725
re-surveyed by General W. H. H. Beadle, deputy surveyor gen
eral, in July, 1881, as there was an error in the township surveys.
Cortez Fessenden, surveyor general; Shobal V. Clevenger and
Augustus High, under a joint contract dated July 3, 1872, with
William PI. H. Beadle, United States Surveyor General for Da
kota territory, started September 6, 1872, laid out township
133-53, and continued to survey all the township lines except
Fort Ransom Military Reservation.
The next Avas the sectional sub-division survey contract, in
which Shrobal V. Clevenger and Augustus High are joint con
tractors with William H. H. Beadle for Dakota territory, dated
July 3, 1872. 135-53, 133 and 134-55, 134 and 135-57, east of
Fort Ransom Military Reservation; 136, ranges 57 and 58, north
of reservation, surveyed by Augustus Pligh, A. B. Falley, G.
Barber, 0. C. Lithfield, W. H. Brown, Albert Mesto, assistants.
In July and August, 1874, Joseph W. Blanding sub-divided
townships 133 and 134, range 53. In November, 1876, George G.
Beardsley surveyed townships 136, ranges 54, 55 and 56. In
June and July, 1879, Edwin H. Van Antwerp completed town
ships 133, ranges 54 and 56, 57 and 58, 135-55, and 136-53, which,
with the sub-division of Fort Ransom Military Reservation, in
1880, completed the survey of the county.
The guide meridians and standard parallels had mounds of
earth four feet square and three feet high.
Each surveyor had to test his compass to see that it was ad
justed accurately to correspond with the solar guide meridian
surveys, and here is the way it was done: "Upon the foregoing
line during the night I established a true meridian line; fixed
a bearing pole twelve feet long firmly in the ground and from the
top swung a small linen cord with a plumb bob attached hanging
free in a pail of water. Six feet south of this, fixed a straight
smooth board upon two posts firmly driven into the ground east
and west and one foot high, to a board slide ; upon this fixed a
compass sight, moved this upon the board until Polaris Avas
behind the line and moved it easterly until the star "Alioth" of
the contellation "Ursa Major" and Polaris were in the same
vertical plane and covered equally by the cord. At a distance
of twenty feet north an assistant held a small lantern before a

726 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
vertical staff, and I signalled him by another lantern until the
staff and the two stars were in the same vertical plane. The
staff was fixed in the ground until morning and another staff was
planted where the compass sight was fixed. As compared with
this line, my instrument, a new six-inch needle, vernier compass,
manufactured by W. & L. E. Gurley, Troy, N. Y., without num
ber, approved by the surveyor general, showed a contrast adjust
ment and a magnetic variation of the corner of the line last run
as compared with this meridian, was, etc." — Report of William
H. H. Beadle.
The first settlers, or those who were the pioneers to come into
the county to build homes for their families, were reported by
the surveyors to be John Knutson, on the southwest quarter of
section 21-134-54, in September, 1872, when he had a good house
and twelve acres under cultivation and fenced, since his arrival
in 1870; and Phidelem Letonneau, who settled on the northeast
quarter of section 20-134-54 in 1870, and in 1872 had a good
house and barn, fifteen acres under cultivation, and forty acres
fenced. His surroundings betokened thrift and much labor. His
was the first grain grown in Ransom county. Mr. Knutson stayed
here until 1888, accumulated considerable property, sold out and
went to his old home in Norway. Letonneau sold out here,
moved to Fargo, and died there. His widow remained and
reared a family of twelve children.
September 18, 1872, the surveyors completed the survey of
township 135, range 54, and found E. Whitcomb with a home
on the northwest of 13 ; Peter Bonner with a home on the south
west of section 11 ; Philo Kendall with a few acres of breaking
and building a house on the southeast quarter of section 10;
Emma Bowden on northwest quarter of 10, had breaking done
but no house yet. All of these people lived on their land for
several years, and have sold out and gone West.
There was considerable labor and time spent in the early
days in exploring for coal among the bluffs of the Sheyenne, as
the fuel question was an important one, for the government to
supply its forts and expeditions, and also for the settlers. The
surveyors found numerous excavations made all along the river,
and on the southeast quarter of section 32-135-54 report an "un-

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 727
finished house near a tunnel on the river bank made by coal
explorers. Place now abandoned as but little coal was found
and that not of useful quality." Float coal is found in many
places in the county, but no mines have been yet discovered.
The surveyors also report finding in that township, "A few
relics such as old shoes, tent pins, human bones and skulls, in
various parts of the township, mdicating Indian fracases and
probable mining fights. General Sibley has battled with Indians
in this vicinity," and they make a note of finding "fortifications
for the battle of the Sheyenne river under General Sibley. ' ' This
is an error, as the latter army had no battle there. The surveyors
mistook the remains of the fortified city of the Sheyenne Indians
for Sibley's earthworks.
The first final proof made in the Fargo land office, when it
was located there by congress, was by Ludwig Thiergart on the
northeast quarter of section 8-135-53. The proof was made
September 30, 1875, and the patent issued March 1, 1876.
Among the instruments in the office of the county auditor
can be found a petition thirty feet long presented to the county
commissioners praying that the question of granting liquor
license (local option) be submitted to the vote of the county
November 6, 1888. The petition was granted and 668 votes were
cast for license to 829 votes against. Since then the sentiment
of a majority of the voters of the county has been for prohibition.
The vote on the adoption of the constitution of the state and pro
hibition was : Constitution, 1,110 for, 25 against ; prohibition, 670
for, 557 against.
The first instruments on file in the office of the register of
deeds are dated 1876 and 1877. They transfer by deed large
bodies of land from the Northern Pacific Railroad to Chester
H. Davis, of New York City. Davis was a brother-in-law of C.
F. Kindred, who was then land commissioner of the Northern
Pacific, and it is alleged that actual compensation received by
the company was meagre. District Court.
The first term of the district court held in Ransom county
was at Lisbon, January 5, 1885. Hon. S. A. Hudson, judge;

728 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Willis W. Tuller, clerk. Hon. William B. McConneU's first term
was held August 3, 1886.
The population of the county in 1880 was 537 ; in 1890, 5,393 ;
in 1900, 6,919 ; 1905, 8,634.
At the election of 1908 there were 1,937 votes cast for presi
dential electors; Republican, 1,308; Democrat, 581; Prohibition,
36 ; Socialist, 11 ; Independent Democrat, 1. The air of Ransom
county is too pure for Socialism.
The total valuation of the county for the year 1908 is $3,-
927,910; personal property, $1,260,431; real estate, $2,667,479;
total tax levy, $215,754.35. Township Organization.
Name. Date organized. Township. Range.
Aliceton  April 8, 1903. 133 35
Northland  February 2, 1891. 136 58
Big Bend  May 3, 1900. 134 55
Casey  December 12, 1888. 135 55
Coburn  June 7, 1893. 136 53
Fort Ransom  April 2, 1889. 135 58
Elliott  January 17, 1905. 134 57
Maple River (now
Liberty)  November 19, 1885. 136 55
Moore  March 6, 1895. 136 56
OAvego  June 1, 1894. 135 53
Preston  November 1, 1892. 136 57
Sydna  August 1, 1892. 133 54
Springer  May 18, 1889. 135 57
Sandoun  January 12, 1901. 135 53
135 54
Shenf ord  August 1, 1884, N. half of 134 54
Sheldon village  July 31, 1884. 136 54
Roland  May 11, 1905. 133 58
Greene  January 4, 1906. 136 54
(So much of this town
ship as has hereto
fore been organized
as the village of Shel
don.)

HISTORY" OF RANSOM COUNTY 729
Tuller  March 6, 1906. 135 56
Bale  March 6, 1906. 133 56
Hanson  March 6, 1906. 134 58
Alleghany  March 6, 1906. 133 57
Island Park  March 2, 1908. 134 56
The county seat, Lisbon, is located in Island Park township.
Historical.
It is a commendable custom in the formation of new states to
commemorate the names of men of prominence in American prog
ress by naming counties and cities after them. Ransom county
and Fort Ransom bear a name honored in American history as a
distinguished officer of the Union army.
Major-General Thomas E. G. Ransom entered the service as
major of the Eleventh Illinois Volunteers, and rose to the com
mand of the Seventeenth Army Corps. He was several times
wounded, and died from injuries received in the Atlanta cam
paign. Grant and Sherman both said that he was the ablest of
volunteer generals, and Sherman once spoke at length commend
ing his heroic character.
General Ransom was the son of Colonel Ransom, who com
manded the Ninth United States Volunteers in the Mexican War
and was killed at the storming of the fortress of Chapultepec.
This was the most desperately fought battle of that war. The
fortress was defended by the students of the Mexican Military
Academy. After several unsuccessful attempts to take the place,
a cannon was loaded with a solid shot and a detail of seventy-five
men was ordered to haul the gun up to the walls of the fort, turn
it around and fire it to make a breach in the wall. They took
up the gun, but were all shot before they could turn it around.
Another detail of 150 men chosen from different parts of the line
turned the gun and battered down a wide gap, through which
the charging Americans went like a whirlwind and captured the
fort. Chapultepec is the Mexican Bunker Hill, and each year the
people of Mexico do honor to the brave youth who, in defense of
their country, fell nobly fighting the northern invaders.
The geographical location of Ransom county brings it directly
into the pathway of nearly every expedition, national and pri-

730 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
vate, wending its westward way over these plains bearing the
Star of Empire. The "big bend" of the Sheyenne river made it
necessary to establish routes south of it at the times of floods,
and its numerous fords, with sloping banks and solid gravel bot
toms, rendered it easy of crossing in low water, and, as overland
travel had to pass north of the Missouri river, it brought this
county into a direct line of northwestward march. The old well-
worn pathway of the Oregon overland emigrants crossed the
county diagonally. General Sibley's westward and return line
of march crosses the county in two places ; the Port Sisseton and
Fort Totten, and the Fort Abercrombie military roads traverse
the county; the latter crosses the river at Sibley's ford and again
at Brunton's, passing just north of Lisbon with one route, and
the other around the bend south of the river. Many of the mounds
thrown up by the engineer corps in locating these roads still re
main. Another established route ran through Owego township
west via Fort Ransom. Along these lines of travel passed hun
dreds of freighters carrying supplies to the forts and settlements
west, and numerous expeditions of explorers and railroad sur
veyors and private parties. Over the Oregon trail tramped thou
sands of the early settlers of the northwestern Pacific states. They
had a large fortified circular camp covering about twenty acres
on section 2-133-56, to guard against the attacks of prowling
jands of Sioux who followed these expeditions to gratify the
Indian instinct of bloodshed and plunder. Hundreds of troops
of our "boys in blue" have marched over our now fertile fields
to protect the property and save the scalps of white men. All
of these important routes of travel were beaten into deep path
ways by the tread of hundreds of thousands of northwestern pio
neer empire builders. "They crossed the prairies as of old
The Pilgrims crossed the sea,
To make the West, as they the East,
The birthplace of the free."
Through them the "chaos of a mighty world" has surely
"rounded into form."
Travel was dangerous in those days and numerous encounters

t^^^jsZ^^s //c^yc^C^

T

•J^,

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 731
with the Indians occurred, as the timber and bluffs skirting the
Sheyenne river formed a natural shelter and hiding place for
them. Several skeletons of white men have been found marking
the resting place of the unknown dead and showing conclusively
that passing around the lower bend of the river must at some time
have been a hazardous undertaking. The bones of one white man
were found bleaching on the prairie about eight miles southwest
of Lisbon. The skull had a bullet hole through it, and several
small articles such as would be carried by a man in good circum
stances were found near it. Another skeleton was found on the
bluff near Dead Colt creek, no doubt the relics of one of Don
Stevenson's ox drivers who got lost at the time his whole train
got snowed in. On a knoll near the Sargent county line four
human skeletons were found lying side by side, mute testimony
of some desperate encounter where all the party must have been
slain, as none was left to bury the dead. On many high points
overlooking the valley are circles of small boulders placed close
together, covering a diameter of about six feet, the whole spot
from center to outside being covered, which mark the repose of
some hunter or trapper, as in every instance where they have been
dug into human bones not touched by extreme age are found,
victims of disease or the bullets of the redskins, buried by their
comrades and the stones placed on the graves to prevent the
coyotes from disturbing their final rest.
William Hutchins, one of the first settlers and still a resident
of the county, eight years, from 1871 to 1879, drove ox teams for
Don Stevenson, later a resident of Morton county and now dead.
J. C. Burbank, of St. Paul, Minn., N. P. Clark, of St. Cloud, Minn.,
still a resident there, and his brother-in-law, T. C. McClure, now
deceased, were old time government freighters. Hutchins helped
Stevenson move Fort Ransom to Fort Cross, the name afterwards
changed to Fort Seward. He made many trips through this
county and beyond, and enjoyed all the pleasures of outdoor
pioneer life on the plains, and suffered all the mosquito-laden
and frost-bitten woes of the western "bull whacker," wending
his slow, tortuous, tedious way over the parched, burnt-over
prairies of Dakota, or through the knee-deep "gumbo" of Min
nesota, the essential forerunner of the "iron horse."

732 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
To protect these overland freighters and the expeditions of
home-seekers and soldiers the United States government con
structed a line of "storm stations" along the important trails,
so any one caught in a storm could find refuge. The one assigned
to Ransom county was located on section 19 in Owego township.
It consisted of a large log shanty with ample log stables to shelter
the oxen of the trailers or the horses of the troops. This place
was named "Pidgeon Point," and was kept by Dave Faribault,
a half-breed French and Chippewa Indian and a nephew of the
old Chief Faribault, of Minnesota. Dave was sent here by the
government. His wife was a full-blood Aricaree squaw, good
looking and educated. They had two children, Lewis and Jane.
Jane was a bright, fine young lady, very courteous and highly
respected by those who gained her acquaintance. She resembled
the French in features. Her parents sent her to an academy in
St. Paul, Minn., where she graduated. During the year 1871 a
man named Charles Huggins arrived and, living at Faribault's,
engaged in hunting and trapping along the Sheyenne river. He
fell in love with Mrs. Faribault and she with him. Dave became
suspicious, ordered him out of the house and sharpened his knife.
Charlie stayed among the neighbors for a year or more and both
kept up a correspondence with each other to arrange clandestine
meetings. They used Tommy Bonner, a bright little lad, for mail
carrier, and he was very faithful to his trust and kept his secrets
until one day, while on his way to deliver one of Charlie 's letters
he fell and hurt himself, so he had to get home with the letter,
which his mother found and read. Of course the contents of the
letter leaked out and the gossip reached Charlie's ears, when he
got busy. Mrs. Bonner received a very threatening letter from
him, stating that if "she did not attend to her own affairs and
keep her nose out of his, he would see that she was smoked out,
etc." Soon afterwards a party of Sioux Indians appeared and
were very impertinent, which started a genuine "Indian scare,"
and nearly all the settlers left with their families for the East.
John McCusker was one who skipped for his old home in Min
nesota. This was in 1872. He remained there one year, and re
turned with his family in the spring of 1874 and still lives at the
old camping ground of his pioneer days. Mr. Bonner soon re-

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 733
turned. The only depredation committed by the Indians was to
run off nine of Mr. Bonner's fat young cattle, which he soon
recovered. The then residents credited Mr. Huggins as the insti
gator of the actions of the Sioux. Love affairs usually have an
end, and in this case the culmination was quite forceful and ro
mantic. Charlie got tired of dodging Dave 's knife, so in some way
he obtained a quantity of "fire water" (how is not recorded, as
the prohibition jug traffic was not yet invented nor the interstate
commerce law made a refuge for crime) and when the next squad
of cavalry and a bunch of "bull whackers" happened to meet
there during a storm, the whiskey was freely distributed on the
express condition that Dave should have his full share of it. All
agreements and promises were rigidly kept, and a hilarious big
time ensued. Dave got strictly paralyzed, and when he came out
of his stupor his wife had eloped with Charlie and came no more
into these wilds. To him the turtle doves of the Sheyenne forests
had ceased their gentle cooing for a time. Charlie is gone where
all troubles cease. Mrs. Huggins is still living in South Dakota.
Lewis staid with his father. Jane, after receiving an academic
education, returned to her mother and married a "blanket
Indian" colloquially named "Dandy Jim."
Tommy Bonner was the first duly appointed mail carrier in
Ransom county, and Charlie 's the first love affair memorialized in
our legends, and Dave's the experience common to history of the
results of a "mix-up" with "wine and woman."
Owego Colony.
The human desire not to be contented with surroundings and
to gain dollars from an investment of cents, forming episodes in
the history of mankind since the "tale of the Garden of Eden,"
has caused the first development of every country and locality in
America since King James' scheme for the colonization of James
town, Va. The first early settlement of Ransom county was due
to a "townsite scheme," the expectation of obtaining a large tract
of land for a mere pittance and selling it in small lots at fabulous
prices. Early in 1870 Captain LaFayette Hadley organized "the
Owego Colonization Company" at Rochester, Minn., and came

734 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
to Owego township and settled on what, being surveyed, proved to
be section 16, where they platted a town site and named it
"Owego" after their former beautiful home city on the Susque-
hannah. Several families came and twelve dwellings were
erected. LaFayette Hadley was elected president. Among the
members of the colony were: Orange Hadley, Samuel Horton,
Kelley E. Bowden, S. R. Day and Louis Thiergart, all of whom
became residents of the county for several years. The able-bodied
male members of the colony worked on the Northern Pacific Rail
road, then being constructed west of St. Cloud, Minn. Captain
Hadley thought the railroad would cross the Red river farther
south and the Sheyenne at Owego, thence to Fort Ransom via
Brunton's Ford. He was the first real estate agent in the county
and had a successful plan for the occasion. He charged each set
tler fifteen dollars for the privilege of taking a claim within a
radius of five miles, as he had platted that amount of territory.
Several of the colony had ox teams and the captain had them
donate the hauling of the lumber and the labor for the erection oi
a neat two-room cottage with an attic, for his office and residence.
All the lumber was hauled from McCauleyviUe, Minn., at sixty
dollars a thousand. It was native elm and basswood, rough on
both sides, full of knots and bark-edged.
The mail was brought by the soldiers who carried the mail to
Fort Ransom and stopped at Dave Faribault's.
By letter dated March 4, 1907, from the Hon. F. H. Hitchcock,
first assistant postmaster general, he states that the postoffice was
established at Owego, September 1, 1871, in Sheyenne county,
Dakota territory, with James C. Felch as postmaster. There is
an error in regard to Owego being in Sheyenne county, as it was
in township 135 and the south line of that township was the south
boundary line of Stevens county. Owego was the third postoffice
established in what is now North Dakota. Commodore Kittson
was appointed postmaster at Pembina in 1844, and Charles Cava
lier at St. Joseph in 1863.
The colony prospered for a while, until the "Huggins Indian
scare" drove them all away. Captain Hadley and some others
returned. Hadley lived there until the colony was abandoned in
1874, when he moved with his family to McCauleyviUe and started

HISTORY" OF RANSOM COUNTY 735
a restaurant. Afterwards he went to Fargo, and died in Oregon.
The buildings were appropriated by the settlers, but Captain Had
ley collected their full value from the government as an "Indian
depredation claim."
Among the first permanent settlers of the county were George
Hutchins, father of William Hutchins, Peter Bonner, Helmuth
Schultz, Herman Schultz, F. W. Baguhn and John McCusker, be
sides those mentioned by the surveyors. They all settled along
the river near Owego. George Hutchins freighted through the
county in 1868. Mr. Baguhn built the first bridge over the Red
river at Fargo. The Northern Pacific Company wished to get
some construction tools and supplies over the river, and, as the
ice was unsafe, he borrowed some lumber of Burns and Finkle,
of Moorhead, and, using a fallen tree that nearly spanned the
channel for one stringer and timbers laid on the ice for the other,
a bridge was constructed and the construction outfit taken over.
Mr. Hutchins says when he first saw Moorhead, in 1868, only one
building stood there and the place was called "Smoky Point."
The settlers accumulating along the Sheyenne soon wanted a post-
office and petitioned for a mail route from Fargo to Owego direct.
F. W. Baguhn was appointed mail carrier and postmaster at
Owego. His commission for the latter was dated October 19, 1874,
and signed by Marshall Jewell, postmaster general. His salary
as mail carrier was $400 per annum. He made trips once a week
The postoffices on the route were Owego, Barret, Power, Kindred,
Horace and Fargo. The winter of 1874-75 was a very severe one,
forty degrees below being not uncommon. The snow was very
deep and blizzards frequent, but that name for a snow storm was
not then originated — not until 1876. The summer of 1875 was
very pleasant and game plentiful. Mr. Baguhn drove a span of
small Indian ponies, and carried a shotgun and shot wild ducks,
geese and chickens along the route and sold them to Mr. Slogey,
of the Bramble Hotel, Moorhead, who took them by the dozen.
His proceeds from the sale of game during summer amounted to
nearly as much as his salary as mail carrier. Mr. Baguhn still
lives in Owego.
Large game used to be plentiful in the sand hills of Owego.
In 1883 Clark Brooks and George Severson went into the hills for

736 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
a hunt. George stepped on the log of a fallen tree and was peer
ing through the prickly ash to shoot a "cotton-tail" rabbit, when
a monstrous cinnamon bear rose up erect within six feet of him.
George says he could not run because the briers on the ash were
so thick. It will never be known which was the more frightened,
George or the bear. Anyway, George's hair is quite white now,
but as his hair is very light it is hard to tell whether fright
changed his hair or he was born that way. No one knows how
it happened, but George lives in Sheldon and is alive yet, whUe
the bear is dead. They sold at the meat market in Lisbon the cap
ture of a week's hunt — that large bear, two smaller ones, three
deer and tAvo beavers. The carcass of the old bear measured
seven feet in length.
Mrs. Arntson, mother of the present county auditor, had a
little experience in the Owego timbered wilds. They had a fine
calf in a strong pen or room built onto the side of the stable. One
night they heard the crash of lumber being broken, and the calf
blatting, and she and her husband rushed out to ascertain the
trouble. In the darkness she saw the outline of a supposed man
dragging the calf toward a small creek that flowed close by. She
rushed into the brush after the calf, but the darkness prevented
her from finding it. In the morning the partially eaten carcass
of the calf lay by the creek and the tracks of a large bear were
plainly visible in the mud. Mrs. Arntson had been within a few
feet of the bear. He must have lain very quiet while she was
groping in the darkness as she heard no noise. No doubt this was
the bear killed by Mr. Severson.
Owego had another "Indian scare" in 1882. Some Sioux In
dians, armed, appeared one afternoon in June and were perform
ing some queer antics. There were several Norwegian families
living in the hills, some of whom had lived in Minnesota during
the bloody Sioux massacre of 1862. The alarm was given, and
Messrs. Aandahl, Gronbeck, Lunsborg, Skaar and B. Johnson hur
riedly took their families by ox team to Colfax in Richland
county. A message was sent to Major Edwards, of the "Fargo
Argus," who wired the commander of the troops at Fort Sisse-
ton. The next day three troops of the "Custer Avengers" ar
rived and camped on the hill at the south bend of the river, where

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 737
now stands the Aliceton church. They were under command of
Colonel Sickles, a son of General Daniel E. Sickles, who shot
Philip Barton Key on the street corner in Washington, D. C.
Colonel Sickles, with a detachment of a dozen soldiers, rode into
Lisbon and hitched their horses where the Horton Hotel barn
now stands. The next afternoon two half-breed scouts, dressed
in the characteristic fringed buckskin suits, rode in 0Arer the north
bridge. The writer was talking with Colonel Sickles when they
came up. They had scoured the "sand hills" and found that a
small party of Sioux had eluded the Indian police and chased
some antelope from the Coteans in the Sisseton reservation into
our county. Colonel Sickles sent a detachment into the hills and
took the trespassers home. That night was an eventful one in
Lisbon and the eastern part of the county. The "Argus" had
circulated the report of the ' ' outbreak, ' ' and the presence of the
soldiers confirmed it. Many of the Avomen packed their effects,
and with revolvers watched beside their husbands armed Avith
guns. The soldiers remained for a week and Avere very effective
in restoring quiet, especially among the residents in the hills.
During the days before Fort Ransom was garrisoned, Don
Stevenson's train of ox team freighters, returning from a western
trip, were caught in a blizzard and took refuge in "Timber
Coolie," by the "Fish Pond," on the old cheese factory farm
south of Lisbon. The storm Avas very severe and lasted three
days. The men formed shelters with the wagon boxes and turned
the oxen loose. The third day one teamster declared they would
all starve or freeze to death and started eastAvard, taking a yoke
of oxen. He was never seen again, and it is supposed that his
was the skeleton found on the bluffs near where Dead Colt creek
joins the river. Near this skeleton was found an ox yoke and
cnam and the bones of two oxen. When the storm subsided, a
sentinel watching from the bluffs at the west of their rendezvous
saw a dark object moving across the vast white expanse toward
the west. It proved to be a half-breed with a pony dragging an
Indian sled of two poles. The "breed" guided the Avhole party
to safety at Fort Abercrombie. The wagons were recovered in the
spring, but the oxen all perished.

738 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY

The Sibley Trail.
The trail of General H. H. Sibley's expedition of 1863 against
the hostile Sioux to punish them for their fiendish deeds of mas
sacre in Minnesota in 1862, enters Ransom county in section 32-
133-54, thence north, crossing the river at Scoville's ford on the
northwest quarter of section 32-134-54; thence diagonally in a
northwest direction, on the east side of the river, and leaves the'
county on section 6, township 136, range 57. On section 36, town
ship 134, range 55, just west of Scoville's ford, called in Sibley's
reports "the first crossing of the Sheyenne," the expedition
halted, established Camp Hayes and celebrated the Fourth of
July, 1863. Ex-Governor Horace Austin, of Minnesota, then cap
tain of Company B, First Regiment Mounted Rangers, addressed
the troops, being the first Fourth of July oration delivered in Ran
som county. A tall liberty pole of white ash was erected. It was
afterwards struck by lightning, but about twenty feet high of the
base remained standing until the winter of 1891-92, when some
desecrating hand cut it off at the level of the ground for firewood.
At my instigation, Frank Russell, commander of Abercrombie
Post, G. A. R., dug up the base, that was set in the ground about
four feet, in July, 1892, and it is preserved as a relic by the post.
Several small gavels have been made from this historic "liberty
pole" and presented to different members of Sibley's expedition,
and one to Hon. Judge Lauder, of this judicial district. The ex
pedition passed about a mile and a half north of Lisbon and estab
lished "Camp Wharton" on sections 19 and 20, township 135,
range 56, where it halted until Sunday morning, July 12, waiting
for a supply train to arrive from Alexandria, Minn., when it
passed on and crossed the Sheyenne river at Stony ford, near
Sorenson's Mills, in Barnes county. It has often been erroneously
reported that a battle with the Indians occurred at Camp Whar
ton. No Indians were encountered or seen by the expedition until
it arrived within ten miles of where Jamestown now stands.
Near Standing Rock a wagon axle and several other relics were
found by the early settlers. Sunday night was probably passed
there by the troops, but no camp was established.
In June, 1884, the writer drove out to Camp Wharton in com-

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 739
pany with Lieutenant Joseph Weinman, special agent for the Ger
man-American Insurance Company, of Freeport, 111. He exhibited
remarkable memory ; when we first struck the trail he recognized
it instantly and described the location of the camp before we got
in sight of it. On entering the Johnson coulie where the trail
crosses, he said, ' ' See that sharp point of bluff at the left ? Well,
the cavalry scouts deployed at our left frightened a young ante
lope and it came bounding over the top of that bluff and struck
its head against one of the wagons, and one of my boys captured
it, put it into a wagon and we carried it clear through the expedi
tion and back to St. Paul, where we presented it to the colonel
of the regiment, and it is still in the city." This antelope died
in St. Paul about six years ago. At the camp he found the old
well his company dug, the hole where the flagstaff stood, and sev
eral other points of interest. The flagstaff of this camp had been
removed by a Swede, Isaac Westling, who took the land as a
claim, and planted it on a knoll near his house and used it as a
storm signal to guide him home in the event of a blizzard. It
was remoA7ed by Frank Russell in July, 1892, and is now in the
possession of Abercrombie Post G. A. R.
Lieutenant Weinman said that early in the morning of the
12th the death march sounded and a stretcher bearing the remains
of a soldier who had shot himself accidentally was carried out to
the northwest. Let us find his grave. He guided my horse and
we drove within four rods of the grave. It had sunken and the
two stakes that stood at the ends had fallen in. It is on the crest
of the hill overlooking the Sheyenne valley. The main earth
works of the camp have been leveled and the land cultivated, but
many of the outlying picket posts are still plainly visible. Lieu
tenant Weinman Avas detailed to escort a supply train of about
eighty wagons from Alexandria, Minn., to overtake General Sib
ley. He arrived at Camp Hayes the night of July 10 and at Camp
Wharton just before sundown the 11th, and then accompanied
the expedition. He stated to me that in the morning of the 11th
a heavy frost covered the ground, as white as snow, and that after
they crossed the Sheyenne at Stony ford, scarcely any grass was
to be found on the prairie.
I have spent much time and had much correspondence with

740 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ex-Governor William R. Marshall, who was colonel of the Seventh
Regiment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and acted as correspond
ent of the "Pioneer Press" during the expedition, and others, to
ascertain the name of the soldier killed at Camp Wharton, with
the purpose of having his remains taken up and interred in the
G. A. R. cemetery here, but have as yet failed to identify him.
It may have been some teamster or attache of the army whose
name does not appear on the army roster, and must be numbered
with the unknown dead.
To ex-Governor Marshall I am indebted for the names of these
two camps and much other information relative to the expedition.
The names of the camps and some of the details of the first part
of the march are mentioned in Sibley's reports. In a letter from
ex-Governor Marshall, written at Los Angeles, Cal., a few weeks
before his death, he states that he remembers an accidental death
at one of the camps, hut could not now locate it from memory.
Brigadier General Sibley Avould not have been a success as a
North Dakota real estate agent and boomer. In his report to
Major J. F. Meline, acting assistant adjutant general at Mil
waukee, Wis., dated "in the field sixty miles west of Fort Aber
crombie, Camp Stevens, August 16, 1863," he says: "The region
traversed by my column between the first crossing of the Shey
enne river (Scoville's ford) and the Coteau of the Missouri is for
the most part uninhabitable. If the devil were to select a resi
dence upon the earth, he would probably choose this particular
district for an abode. Avith the redskins' murdering and plunder
ing bands as his ready ministers, to verify by their ruthless deeds
his diabolical hate to all who belong to a Christian race. Through
this vast desert, lakes fair to the eye abound, but generally their
Avaters are strongly alkaline or intensely bitter and brackish. The
valleys between them frequently reek with sulphurous and other
disagreeable vapors. The heat was so intolerable that the earth
was like a heated furnace, and the breezes that swept along its
surface were scorching and suffocating as the famed sirocco." I
should have enjoyed Avatching the general's face Avhile he Avas
reading Harcourt's "Lisbon Star" in the early eighties.
After an arduous search, the Avriter unearthed from the ar
chives of the Minnesota State Historical Society the folloAving

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 741
vivid description of the first Fourth of July celebration ever held
in Ransom county, written by Chan Harmin, later a miller at
Sauk Center, Minn., to the "St. Paul Pioneer." There were two
dailies in St. Paul then, the "Pioneer," Democratic, started in
1846, and the "Press," Republican. In 1849 both were merged
into the "Pioneer Press."
Fourth of July on the Sheyenne.
Toasts, Responses, etc.
Camp Hayes, North Bank of Sheyenne River, July 4, 1863.
Your regular correspondent, Rev. Mr. Riggs, has doubtless
written you from this camp, detailing the incidents of the march.
I propose to give you a brief report of our relations of the day
and a very pleasant reunion of the officers of the expedition at
the general's tent this evening. Soon after arriving in camp this
afternoon, Captain Chase, of the pioneers, procured a sappling
from the trees along the river, which he erected into a liberty pole
in front of headquarters. The large American flag that belonged
to the lower agency and was rescued from the Indians last fall —
the same that floated at Mankato at the execution of the con
demned Sioux — was run up and given to the breeze. Captain
Jones, of the battery, at sunset fired a salute of thirty-four guns,
Avaking strange echoes along the hills of the Sheyenne. The gen
eral invited the field staff and officers of the several regiments to
his marquee, when the very agreeable sight of lovers of delicious
cake — provided for the occasion by the excellent and thoughtful
wife of the general — greeted eyes quite unused lately to such
sights. There was abundantly supplied appropriate and palata
ble accompaniments to the cake. After ample justice had been
done these, Colonel Crooks, of the Sixth, proposed "To the health
of the commanding general and the success of the expedition."
General Sibley suitably responded, assuring the company that
the expedition would never turn back without accomplishing its
object — the extinction of Little Crow and the band of murderers
that followed him — if success were in the bounds of human per
severance and endurance. He felt confident he could rely on the
officers and men of the command for faithful support in this pur-

742 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
pose. Colonel Baker, in proposing the health of Mrs. Sibley, to
whom the company was indebted for the refreshing delicacies
before them, thought it peculiarly fitting that the wife of the
beloved commander should be remembered on the occasion. Lieu
tenant Colonel Marshall complained that Colonel Baker had ap
propriated the sentiment that he (Colonel Marshall) was ready to
offer to Mrs. Sibley, but would now offer.
General Sibley proposed the health of General Pope, who most
cordially supported General Sibley and provided all things neces
sary for the expedition. General Sibley expressed Avarmly his
obligations to General Pope.
The health of the president of the United States was offered
by Colonel Crooks, and a sentiment to the Union by Colonel Baker.
The health of Hon. Alexander Ramsey was proposed by Lieuten
ant Jennison.
The general offered a sentiment complimentary to Sinclair
Flandran, of his staff, who was about to leave in the morning on
his return home, on account of failing health, and to Mr. T. J. Holt
Beever, also of the general's staff, the sole representative in the
company of her majesty Queen Victoria's subjects.
The general took occasion to express his obligations to these
gentlemen, his regrets at parting with Mr. Flandran, and the hope
and expectation that in a few days he, the general, would receive
from the accredited representatives of Mr. Beever 's queen, full
authority to pursue into British territory any guilty Indian that
might escape thither.
Messrs. Flandran and Beever suitably responded. Adjutant
Braden offered the health of Colonel Crooks, to which he briefly
responded. Colonel Crooks proposed the health of Colonel Miller,
of the Seventh, with the sentiment that, although absent, he was
remembered and his place well supplied by the lieutenant colonel
commanding. Lieutenant Colonel Marshall responded, regretting
the absence of Colonel Miller, who, but for his broken health re
sulting from the hard services of the campaigns and battles on
the Potomac, from Bull Run through the seven-days' battle, and
before Richmond, down to the South mountains, would have been
with the expedition and enjoyed the company tonight. General

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 743
Sibley proposed health to Lieutenant Colonel Marshall; Colonel
Marshall, the health of Colonel Baker.
Colonel Crooks proposed the health of the colonel of the First
Mounted Rangers, Colonel MePhail, to which he (McPhail) re
sponded. Lieutenant Colonel Jennison proposed to drink to the
Ninth regiment and its gallant Colonel Wilkins. Colonel Marshall
proposed health to Colonel Thomas, of the Eighth regiment, and
his command.
A patriotic poem adapted to the occasion, written by Mr.
SAveetser, correspondent of the "Springfield Republican," was
read by Captain Olin and received warm commendation.
Quartermaster Carver, of the Sixth, offered a sentiment to the
wives and sweethearts at home, which was feelingly received.
The health of the medical director of the Eighth, Dr. Wharton,
and of the medical staff of the several regiments was drank.
With songs and jokes from that inimitable wit and humorist,
Colonel Jennison, and sentiments and speeches from others, the
hours sped swiftly, and the celebration of the Fourth of July on
the banks of the Sheyenne was voted an entire success and a
most enjoyable occasion to all who participated. Chan Harmin.
Camp Hayes, North Bank of the Sheyenne River.
July 4, 1863.
Saturday eA'ening has come and we have accomplished our
week's work of marching. Yesterday was a very hard day. In
order to reach the river today without difficulty, it was decided
to come past Kandiota lakes, and run our chance of finding a
camping place five or six miles this side. In the afternoon the day
became real hot, the south wind blew, but it burned and blistered
as if it had come from a heated oven. For several hours the ther
mometer could not be coaxed below 100. It was hard, very hard
on the men and teams. In addition we did not find as good a
camp as we have usually had. The water was not good, but we
are reminded that we are not on a pleasure trip, but on the war
path, and that we are now in the enemy's country and may soon
be met by hostile forces.
We have crossed over the Sheyenne and camped in or near

744 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
the south bend on the north side of the stream. A most beautiful
place it is. We have seen no spot so lovely since the commence
ment of the campaign. In this vicinity there is a good pasturage,
and the gentle rain, which has been promising for a good while
and has fairly commenced fulfilling its promise, will make even
the dead places look green.
After a couple of hours' roadmaking by the pioneers, Captain
Chase's company, the whole command crossed the stream with
out difficulty. The river here is smaller than I expected to find it,
not so large as the Minnesota at Lac qui Parle, a good rocky bot
tom, and when full of water is a very respectable stream. The
growth of timber in the valley is not great, but enough to make
it picturesque and beautiful.
Although away off in this far West, it is not proposed to for
get the Fourth of July, the birthday of our liberties. While I
now write, a liberty pole is being raised in front of headquarters,
and this evening at seven o'clock the rule forbidding all firing a
gun will be suspended, and thirty-four shots will be fired for the
Union. The question, "shall we probably be attacked by the hostile
Sioux?" is one now much discussed in camp. Quite a common
impression is that they will give us battle, and the wish is fre
quently that they may. Three Indians on horseback are reported
to have been seen by one of the cavalry pickets this morning about
daylight. Rifle pits and other intrenchments are being dug today,
and henceforth we will have trenches dug at every encampment.
Whatever of interest takes place at this camp I will send you
in my next communication. Yours truly, S. R. Riggs.
The two following letters, while not all pertaining to this
county, are of historic interest :
Camp Hayes. July 10, 1863.
A portion of our Abercrombie train came in yesterday and the
remainder today. Tomorrow the line of march will be taken up
for points farther west.
In a communication of "Invalid" to the "Pioneer," written

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 745
from Camp MePhail, June 21, the writer, without doubt uninten
tionally, does an injustice to our corps of scouts. He says: "Our
Indian scouts go on in advance of our column and do not shut
their eyes on plunder. One of them opened a grave on Friday
last, at Yellow Medicine, and found a portemonnaie containing
forty dollars in gold, on the body of a woman. He undoubtedly
knew where to look for it."
To correct any false impression which may be conveyed by
this, it may be only necessary to say that it was not found at Yel
low Medicine, but at the lower Sioux agency; it was not on Fri
day, the 18th of June, but several weeks previous; it was not
found by a man acting as a scout of this expedition, and it was
not by a Avhite woman, as might be understood by the language
used, but an Indian woman. Yours truly, S. R. Riggs.
Camp McClaren, Head Big Stone Lake. June 28, 1863.
Mr. Ryder, Esq., St. Paul, Minn.
Dear Sir : Agreeably to your request and my promise, I made
it my business to visit the locality of the trading post of your late
brother and to bury his remains. His trading house was the
uppermost of the four, situated along the border of Big Stone
lake, on the west side, one or two miles above the great bend in
the lake, the houses perhaps a third of a mile apart. We found
your brother's house destroyed by fire; the remains of your
brother Avere lying in front of the site of the house, toward the
lake, about two rods from the house. The bones were somewhat
scattered, the right side of the skull broken away ; the pants, red
flannel shirt and shoulder braces, all in place, remained together
with some of the bones inside his clothes. Mr. George Spencer,
who, before the outbreak, was trading in the next house below,
was with me and recognized the clothes unmistakably. There
were parts of bones of another smaller person than your brother
lying near and mingled Avith the bones of your brother. Mr.
Spencer said they were those of a young man, almost a boy, who
lived with your brother or near by. There was a cap which
Spencer recognized as that of another man, but could find nothing
of his remains save the bones.

746 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
The bones of both were buried where they lay, and the grave
marked. There would be no difficulty in finding it by any one
who should know the location of the building.
Very truly yours, W. R. Marshall.
As the cavalry scouts approached the east bank of the Shey
enne river a magnificent elk rushed from the thicket and bounded
over the prairie. One teamster wrote home that the grass was
good at Camp Hayes and "made the mules kick up their heels."
Lieutenant T. J. Holt Beaver, alluded to in Mr. Harmin 's let
ter, was a son of one of the noble families of England, a graduate
of Oxford and a fine fellow. He took to roving and begged of
General Sibley the privilege of accompanying him on the expedi
tion, and he acted as voluntary aid to the general. At the battle
of Sibley's island, at the mouth of Apple creek, south of Bismarck,
Lieutenant Beaver was sent north to carry dispatches to Colonel
Crooks, which he delivered. On returning, he took a shorter
route, passing through a strip of timber. He did not return, and
the next day his body was found pierced by three bullets and
with two arrows sticking in his back. Nearby lay the body of his
horse, and not far away that of Private Miller. The remains of
Lieutenant Beaver were buried with the honor due his rank.
Afterwards they were taken up with the intention of sending
them to his parents, but his mother stated that "all loyal British
soldiers desire to rest on the field where they fell," and refused
to receive them. They now repose in the cemetery at St. Cloud,
Minn. One correspondent, writing from Camp Hayes, states that the
general adorned his table for the occasion with some long-necked
glass vase, with the remark that the water is poor in this vicinity,
and it was surprising how many officers suddenly had lumps in
their throats.
On the return march, Sibley's army followed the old trail of
Colonel Stevens, made in 1853, from his hospital, Camp Atchison,
near Lake Jessie in Steele county, crossing the Maple river at
Watson, in Cass county, and through Coburn township, in this
county. There was no good water between Lake Jessie and the
Maple, and when the troops arrived there a guard was placed

HISTORY" OF RANSOM COUNTY 747
around the deep holes to keep the soldiers from fouling the water
and from overdrinking.
C. H. Sweetser, correspondent of the Springfield (Mass.) "Re
publican," accompanied the army. Evidently he did not enjoy
the trip, for he writes from Camp Stevens, fifty-five miles from
Fort Abercrombie, August 16, 1863: "Dacota is good for noth
ing, means nothing and is nothing, at least for white men. If
the buffalo like it and the Indians are willing to stay in it, or
Fisk can get to Walla Walla through it, so far so good. Otherwise
never mention Dacota with the possibilities of any human enter
prise. Even railroad sleepers would get homesick if bound to
hibernate and perpetuate in this wretched, unfinished, doleful
country. We are getting towards home and everybody is glad of
it. It takes the sting out of at least 1,000 blistering feet to think
of it. The nights are cold and the days hot. The thermometer
seems to be affected with the delirium tremens." He must have
eaten nothing but General Hazen 's reports, and slept with Gen
eral Sibley. Wish some one would take him by the ear and lead
him over the old trail now, so he could contrast the homes and
beautiful expansive fields of our farmers with the little rocky
patches of those of his own state.
Sibley's army camped on the Maple river Saturday night,
August 16, and arrived at Abercrombie on the 18th. Sweetser
reports no Indians seen on the Maple or Sheyenne rivers in this
vicinity since last autumn. The Fisk that he mentions was sent
by the government with troops to escort a party of settlers to
Walla Walla, Wash., and to explore a more northern route. In
returning he got lost south of Devil's lake with his whole com
mand, and Brackett's battalion of cavalry found him. George
Hutchins, of this county, was with Brackett on this trip. Sweet
ser says that on the return of Sibley's army to Fort Abercrombie
the number of troops was 3,400 ; miles traveled to date, 800 ; In
dians seen, 3,000; Indians killed, fifty-one; wounded, 100; cap
tured, sixteen; number of engagements, four; our men killed,
seven; wounded, one; loss of Indian property, great; our loss,
none. The army, going north, crossed the Dakota boundary June
14 and camped on the Iznza or Whitstone river. Only sixty-five
days on this long march.

748 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Gold Excitement of 1883.
A history of Ransom county would be incomplete without men
tion of the great gold excitement of 1883, and as the writer then
held one of the most important offices in the county, that of regis
ter of deeds and county clerk, he necessarily became familiar with
the gold deal, hence the readers will please bear with the use of
the pronoun "I."
In the summer of 1882 the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad
Company made a preliminary survey of their line from Aberdeen,
S. D., north through Ransom county, crossing the Sheyenne river
in township 135-57, and going out through the bluffs on the north
side, they ran the line up the Jack Harris coulee on section 10,
and in passing a large ledge of rock on the east side the compass
cut sufficient capers to indicate the presence of a large amount of
mineral. Over the top of this ledge flows a rivulet of mineral
water. The rock is formed by the mineral deposit from the spring,
and petrified leaves, twigs, grass and other matter brought in by
the wind.
Henry W. Griswold, a young man from Chicago, was with the
surveying party and noted the action of the compass needle, and
in the spring of 1883 came back here in company with Frank C.
Fry and Edward P. Baker. After a little time spent in exploring
and investigation, they bought the west half of section 10 of Jack
son Harris at ten dollars an acre. The Dakota & Great Southern
Railroad had surveyed a line through the coulee, running north
from the river valley. On the farm were several buildings, one
of them being twelve feet square, built of hewn logs and well
plastered with clay. It had a small four-light window on the
north side. This Mr. Griswold used for an office and assay labora
tory. He had a small cupola or furnace lined with fire clay, the
pipe for the smoke and gas to escape through passing outside
through a hole bored through the logs. In the night, when in use,
a large flame was emitted from the end of this pipe, which alarmed
the neighbors. Mr. Griswold and party spent the daytime in
exploring and gathering samples of rock, sand and earth, which
they pulverized in a mortar and melted in small assaying pots in
the furnace at night. One afternoon in October, James Madigan

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 749
and Thomas Kidd came into my office and very secretly told me
that there was a gang of counterfeiters operating in Jack Harris'
pre-emption shanty. They wanted me to get the sheriff and have
the three arrested at on'ce.
I quieted them somewhat and told them to go home and watch,
and get a peep through that little window and see just what was
being done there, and let me know, but to keep very still about it.
Three days afterward both came in and said they had surely
caught some "counterfeiters," as they had seen, through a little
space where the curtain over the window had been turned aside,
the three of them at work melting up metal and coining it. I
asked them if they saw any coin or molds to make it. They said,
"No; none in sight." I told them that Mr. Griswold had been
in the office several times and did not look like a sharper, and
that no coin had yet been put in circulation, and they would not
be so bold in their operations if counterfeiting, and arranged with
them to meet at a certain shanty on the next afternoon and see
if we could find any money that they had made. That same after
noon, October 19, 1883, Mr. Griswold came into the register of
deeds office to record a patent for the Harris homestead, and,
after enduring a lot of guying, he told me that they had discov
ered gold, and had kept it a secret until Mr. Harris had made
final proof and the United States patent had been issued for the
land. The proof was made July 30, and the patent issued October
3. The next day I met the parties, went to the assay office and
saw Mr. Fry crush several fragments of roek, put it into the fire,
and in every instance there was a small bead of gold left in the
crucible. It was enough to give anyone the gold fever. The next
day the great gold excitement broke out. Within a week every
incoming train was crowded with gold seekers. I counted 130
men coming from one train. The whole Sheyenne valley was ex
plored and mining claims were staked out on every cliff of rock,
and all along the creeks and coulees and among the bluffs from
the north county line to the lower bend of the river.
To show how the excitement spread, I give some names of
those who filed claims : J. MacSmith, J. H. Wilson, William Mc
lntyre, Fargo, "Golden Ledge mine"; P. N. Trahem, D. W. Luke,
A. J. Stacy, John P. Bray, Grand Forks, "Quicksand mine," Oc-

750 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
tober 23, 1883. Mr. Bray was afterward consul to China. A. J.
Harwood, Fargo ; John Kinan, Lisbon ; W. N. Steele, Steele, N. D.,
"Gopher mine," October 24, 1883. Mr. Steele was one of the
Harry Thaw jurors. H. C. Hansbrough, United States senator,
Devil's Lake; A. J. Harwood; George B. Winship, editor "Grand
Forks Herald"; W. N. Steele, October 22, 1883; Lowe Emerson;
J. W. Fisher; J. H. Parvis; E. Q. Cushman, by A. J. Capehart,
October 25, 1883. They were members of the Emerson-Fisher
Carriage Company, Cincinnati, Ohio. George B. Winship, H. C.
Hansbrough, S. N. Still, St. Paul ; A. H. Noyes, October 24, 1883.
No doubt this is where Judge Noyes took his first gold lessons, as
a pursuit of the study of the mining craft gave him fame in
Alaska. J. B. Murray, New York city ; C. S. Dunbar, Lisbon, filed
October 27, 1883; D. M. Sechler, F. M. Sechler, October 26, the
members of the Sechler Carriage Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.
John W. Stoddard, Dayton, Ohio ; J. M. Childs, Utica, N. Y. ; C.
B. Thurston, St. Paul, Minn., and J. E. Wisner, Lisbon, filed claims
and bought considerable land. This was the famous ' ' Tiger Horse
Rake" outfit. The Tiger rake was the first successful wire-
toothed self-dump horse rake put on the market. Mr. Stoddard
was and still is the manufacturer; Mr. Childs, the general agent
for New York; Mr. Thurston, the general agent for the North
west, and Mr. Wisner, the inventor and patentee. I drew the
articles of agreement for them. They employed a mining expert
named Hill and sunk several shafts, dug some tunnels and spent
considerable money in development, mostly on the Peter Thomp
son farm, on which they had an option of purchase at fifty dollars
an acre. Excitement ran to fever heat for several weeks. The site of
Lisbon and much of the valley was taken as placer claims. A
child died in Lisbon, and the Rev. L. S. Knotts was called upon
to conduct the funeral ceremonies. He had just passed the pre
liminaries when a brother minister entered the schoolhouse, and
he called him to finish and himself rushed out and staked a gold
claim at the mouth of a mineral spring on my old "Cheese Fac
tory" farm.
The Peggy placer claim was located on section 17-136-57, Oc
tober 24, 1883, by L. W. Gammons, R, S. Adams, H. K. Adams,

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 751
Neltie A. Ennis, F. P. Allen and A. Baring Gould. There were
two political and business factions in Lisbon then, each striving
to outwit the other, called the "Star Gang" and the "Stevens
Gang." The latter held a meeting in the State Bank, October 22,
and organized a big mining company and arranged an exploring
expedition. The next day a mob of us old-timers, including H. S.
Oliver, M. L. Engle, G. B. Green, M. P. McArthur, E. C. Lucas, A.
E. Lucas, William Silkworth and others explored the "big bend"
of the Sheyenne and filed claims all along the John Jennings
creek and in every coulee where mineral rock outcropped. I stuck
my claim notice at the Foster spring, a fine stream flowing from
the side of the hill which had formed a ledge of rock. Mr. Foster
never forgave me for that act. That night, on returning, we
learned that the "Star Gang" were about to start up the river,
so E. C. Lucas, the present mayor of Lisbon, and myself started
for Standing Rock, to explore the north side of the river beyond
Griswold. It was a wet, drizzling day. While examining the
chalk ledge in the Oerding coulee we came Avithin ten feet of two
fine deer asleep in a patch of prairie willoAvs. While Ave were
eating lunch in the Fredneson coulee, north of Fort Ransom, three
antelope watched us for several minutes from the top of a bluff
Avithin a distance of thirty rods. They were a fine picture silhou
etted against the sky. Darkness caught us in a large bunch of
timber impassable from fallen trees, so we had to drive a consid
erable distance out on the prairie to get around it. Being pretty
well drenched, we started home, arriving after eleven o'clock at
night. We gained more wet feet and experience than gold. The
next day the other fellows got ahead of us and located the "Peggy
mine." A spring brook runs through a large coulee in section
17, fed by mineral springs that petrify everything coming in con
tact with the water. The stream flows under a shell of rock for
more than forty rods, formed of petrified leaves, twigs and sub
stances that had fallen into the water.
Mr. Griswold and partners platted the town of Griswold, built
an addition onto the Harris house, making a hotel of it. They
had three portable houses built in sections in Chicago and shipped
here, erected, and theirs was a busy city. They had a small
crusher and amalgamator, operated by a fifteen-horsepoAver Ames

752 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
portable engine, leased of Hon. T. M. Elliott. A small stream of
water was piped from the spring brook into the top of the cylin
der above the amalgamator, and flowed constantly through it,
with a stream of pulverized rock, when all flowed out into a long
flume with a slatted bottom, made to catch the particles of gold
that the quicksilver in the amalgamator did not retain. They
mined and operated the plant all the summer of 1884, and in the
fall sent the amalgam East for proper treatment. A close account
of all expenses, the weight of all the ore treated, etc., was kept,
and the result showed that it would cost about two dollars and a
half per ton to treat the ore, and that it carried an average of
two dollars and thirty-four cents worth of gold, copper, silver,
lead and tin per ton. By rigid analysis, they found the ore to
contain arsenic and other chemicals that acted like grease in the
amalgamator and floated the particles of gold on so that the "tail
ings" shoAved nearly as much gold as that extracted. To elimi
nate this, the ore had all to be roasted by laying beds of wood,
piling the ore on these beds and burning the wood. This method
of treatment would entail a greater outlay than the value of the
mineral obtained, so the mines all had to be abandoned.
Mr. Griswold was very earnest and sincere in his labors, ex
pended considerable money and, like many other searches for
hidden wealth, the venture failed. The modern cyanide process
of gold extraction was not then in use. No doubt, with the use
of latest methods of making mother earth give up her riches, the
gold fields of Ransom county can be developed into a bonanza.
The best finds were in deposits carried out by water, and there
must be mineral along the course of the veins of water that form
these springs. Some day Ave will know more than we do now.
At that time the government offered a large reward for the
discovery of tin mines in the United States that contained a cer
tain per cent of the metal. The Griswold tin mine came within
three points of winning this reward.
A gopher threw out a pile of peculiar sand on the Jared Bald
win land at the mouth of the Jack Harris coulee. Mr. Griswold
assayed it and discovered that it carried $252 worth of the pre
cious metals per ton. He left $5,000 with me to buy the Baldwin
quarter of land as cheaply as possible, but not to exceed that

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 753
amount. Mr. Baldwin had negotiated a loan of $550 on the land
and had not paid the interest for two years. I got him into the
vault of the register's office and labored with him over an hour,
finally coming up to the limit price, but to no avail. He would
not sell then, but in about one year traded his equity in the farm
for a span of plug bronchos.
Mr. Simmons had a very rough quarter section among the
bluffs on the south side of the Sheyenne, opposite Griswold. Mr.
Fry had his eye on several of the gulches and consumed a great
deal of time in wandering through them with his gun, ostensibly
searching for cotton-tails, but in reality filling his hunter's pouch
with fragments of ore; then he would keep the pots roasting all
night. One evening he assayed a sample that yielded silver to
the value of over $1,000 per ton. Visions of fabulous wealth made
him almost frantic and he resolved to buy that farm if it took
$1,000 an acre to secure it. Think of it, only one ton of rock to
pay for a whole acre of solid wealth. The boys let him enjoy a
couple of days of riches, but, before he made the purchase, "the
cat got out of the bag." Mr. Griswold had quietly dropped a
ten-cent piece in the crucible. The cliffs of the Simmons silver
mine are still untunneled.
Excitement was intense and times lively for a couple of
months. It was a harvest for the hotels and liverymen. With
the exception of the Griswold and Stoddard parties, there was not
much money wasted. Every one else awaited developments. No
schemes or frauds were attempted. There was plenty of cash in
sight to work any mine that might have been discovered. The
remains of the amalgamator are still there to mark the spot where
millions might have been. The engine is still standing in the yard
on Tom Elliott's old pre-emption.
The Schools of Ransom County.
The schools of a county indicate the resource, zeal and the
trend of thought that caUs them into existence. Education is no
burden to carry if put to proper use ; many receive it, but never
enter the right channels after completing their school days, rather
forget what has been instilled into them; while others continue
and become leaders in the business world. A number have gradu-

754 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ated from our Ransom county high schools, entered college,
chosen professions and are now among the leading business and
professional men of the county. They can look back with pride
to the schools where they learned their first lessons.
Ransom county has many well equipped schools, ranking with
the best in the state. There are three classified high schools re
ceiving state aid, two of which, Lisbon and Enderlin, are ranked
as first-class high schools. The rural schools are in a state of
comparatively high efficiency, teaching all common school
branches, and are in session for the greater part of the school
year. Many of the farmers move their families into town during
the winter, that their children may enjoy the advantages of the
high schools, while country boys and girls come in and work for
their board while attending school. The fact that these high
schools graduate so many non-resident pupils speaks well for their
efficiency and reputation.
The first school taught in Lisbon was in school district No. 2,
which was organized May 16, 1881, with J. L. Colton as chairman
and B. T. Hibbard as clerk of the school supervisors. At that
meeting, on motion of H. Cramer, a room was rented and a teacher
hired for three months. A vote was taken, resulting in a two per
cent tax levy to establish and maintain a school in that district.
John Holman was the first teacher in Lisbon.
In compliance with the provisions of an act of the legislature,
entitled, "An act providing for a school board and other pur
poses," approved March 13, 1885, the mayor and council of the
city of Lisbon met at the office of E. J. Ryman, in that city, on
the first Tuesday in May, 1885, and proceeded to elect members
of the school board, as follows : First ward, L. W. Gammons for
the term of tAvo years and E. J. Ryman for one year; second
Avard, R. S. Adams for two years and C. D. Austin for one year;
third ward, E. W Day for two years and J. R. Marsh for one
year; attested by Thomas Curtis, city clerk.
R. S. Adams was elected the first president and L. W. Gam
mons, the first clerk of the board of education, at a meeting held
May 19, 1885.
As early as February 7, 1887, it became evident that the school
facilities were inadequate to take care of the ever increasing num-

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 755
ber of pupils. On that date the board passed a resolution propos
ing a $5,000 bond issue, to be voted upon by the people, for the
purpose of erecting a new and complete school building. The
people Avere not ready to take this step, however, and so the old
building Avas repaired and put in as good shape as possible to
meet the demands. At this time there were two schools in the
city, one school in the north end of town, and what was called
the third ward school in the southern portion of the town, just
south of the depot.
After considerable discussion and much study of the problem,
the board, on March 15, 1892, passed a resolution submitting to
the vote of the electors of the district the proposition of issuing
$16,000 worth of bonds, the proceeds to be used in erecting and
furnishing a building which Avould be large enough to hold the
school population and provide for a considerable increase as fu
ture needs should demand. The people took kindly to this propo
sition, for at the special election, held April 18 of that year, 200
votes were cast for and thirty-four against the issuance of the
bonds. Bids were advertised for in the "Lisbon Star," "Ransom
County Gazette," "Fargo Argus," "Minneapolis Journal" and
the "St. Paul Pioneer Press."
At a meeting of the board, held July 22, the contract for the
construction of the new edifice was awarded to one George W.
Brown, of Minneapolis, the contract price being $13,227. The
members of the board at the time this important step was taken
were W. D. Brown, president; C. D. Austin, clerk; E. D. Allen,
A. C. Kvello, A. L. Whipple and H. K. Adams.
Work was immediately started and the construction pushed
as much as possible. The building was dedicated with fitting
ceremony, on March 1, 1893, Prof. H. B. Woodworth, of Grand
Forks, giving the address. The new school, two stories in height,
Avith eight rooms and basement, situated in a prominent position
in the western portion of the town, became an object of pride and
joy to the citizens, and they delighted in showing strangers the
proof of their energy and progressiveness.
However, the great increase in the number of students of late
years has rendered the school again inadequate. To meet the
new demands, a small two-story frame building was erected be-

756 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
side the old one in the fall of 1907, the upper floor being used as
a laboratory and the first floor as a grade room. This was only
a make-shift for the new permanent building which it is the in
tention of the board to erect in the near future. In all, the dis
trict has expended $24,000 for buildings and $5,000 for equipment.
The total enrollment for the year of 1908-1909 was 445, 115 in
the high school proper, and 330 in the eight grades. In the spring
of 1909 the largest class in the history of the school was gradu
ated, twenty-one students in number — six boys and fifteen girls.
The average number of graduates has been twelve since the first
four-year class in 1895.
The school has been classified by the state as a first class high
school since 1895, and receives state aid for the purchase of books
and apparatus. Music and drawing are taught throughout.
Manual training and sewing from the sixth grade up through the
high school, was installed in 1908. There is a well equipped labor
atory for the use of the physics, botany and geology classes, and
a library of some 300 volumes, reference works and fiction.
A large measure of the prominence which the school enjoys is
due to the work of Superintendent W. W. Reed, who was super
intendent from 1903 to 1908. Owing to his efforts two literary
societies were formed, the Philomathians and the BeUes Lettres,
which have been brought to a high state of progress. They have
done most excellent work in training the pupils to appear in
public speaking, and are really a necessity to every high school.
Lisbon High has taken part in several inter-scholastic debates and
declamation contests, and has always won very near the first
place. In athletics the school has a record of which to be proud.
In several of the events at Grand Forks, between the high schools
of the state, Lisbon has won first place and has been second in
several others.
The present school board is a very progressive one and has
backed up the superintendent in promoting the welfare of the
school in every instance. The members are : T. C. Patterson, vice
president; Sidney D. Adams, clerk; W. L. Williamson, A. C.
Cooper, W. F. Grange. H. S. Oliver, deceased, was president, but
could not serve the last year of his term owing to very poor health.
Enderlin school district, known as Special School District No.

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 757
22, has a high school of the first class, with an enrollment, includ
ing the grades, of 333. It maintains a high standard of work in
all high school branches and is fully up-to-date. The Enderlin
school has as large a faculty as has Lisbon, for during the year
of 1908-1909 eleven teachers were employed, headed by H. L.
Rockwood, superintendent. One or more teachers will probably
be added to the corps in 1909. The school district has an assessed
valuation of $223,520, and this is increasing, as the town is stead
ily growing.
Sheldon, although a smaller town than either Lisbon or Ender
lin, has a high school of the second class that is the pride of the
village. It offers a large and complete three-year course, and is
an exceptionally good school for so small a place. The district
is seriously contemplating the installation of a full four-year
course in 1909 and becoming a first-class high school. During
1908-1909 six teachers Avere employed, with Mr. C. A. Cavett as
superintendent. McLeod, Fort Ransom and Elliott has semi-graded schools,
each of Avhich employs two teachers. The consolidated school of
Liberty toAvnship also employs two teachers.
Ransom county is divided into twenty-four school districts
and has ninety school-houses. Many of these have installed
modern ventilation and other improvements. The valuation of
the school and furnishing in the entire county, not including
Lisbon, is $121,000, and with Lisbon included, a total of $150,000.
Eighty-six teachers are employed in the county, seventy-five of
these holding second-grade certificates, four holding first-grade
certificates, and seven holding normal certificates.
In 1908, to July 1, the number of pupils attending Ransom
county schools was 2,751.
A discussion of the schools of Ransom county would not be
complete without mention of the work of W. G. Crocker, the
county superintendent. A firm believer in education, a lover of
boys and girls, and himself a student, "Uncle WiU" has made edu
cation his life work. He has served as superintendent for twelve
consecutive years since his first election in 1893, and after a vaca
tion of four years was re-elected in 1908. To him is due the in
troduction of free text books in all Ransom county schools, which
Avas brought about almost entirely by his efforts, in 1893. Every

758 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
rural school in the county now has a library of fiction and refer
ence works, the result of Mr. Crocker's untiring zeal and
enthusiasm. He is also editor and publisher of the "Rotary," a magazine
devoted solely to the interests of the school children of North
Dakota. It furnishes a large amount of supplementary reading
and is a great help to the younger students, keeping up the inter
est of the children in school work. Mr. Crocker's "Westland
Educator" is known as a teachers' magazine throughout the
state and is very popular among them by reason of its new ideas
and suggestions and the fact that the editor is ever ready to help
them in their difficulties and problems. Both these publications
have been very highly recommended by the state department of
public instruction. The "Rotary" is used as a reader in almost
every school in the state, and the "Westland Educator" is con
sidered a necessity to the North Dakota teacher.
The people of Ransom county are enthusiastic believers in
education and have backed their beliefs by reaching down into
their pockets and liberally financing the schools. As a result of
their efforts to have and maintain good schools, the county now
possesses three high schools which are the equal of any in the
state, the size of the towns considered, and rural schools which, in
equipment and standard of work, are not excelled by those of any
other county in North Dakota. The parents of Ransom county,
having so earnestly and devotely maintained such a system of
schools, richly deserve the reward of seeing their children grow
up well educated, broader minded men and women, equipped to
take up, with a flood of energy and vigor, the battle of life where
they leave off, and may they live to see the fruits of their care
and foresight.

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 759
City of Lisbon.
The following pages are furnished by other authors :
In May, 1878, Joseph L. Colton arrived in Fargo from his
home in Frazee, Minn.,- with an ox team and covered wagon. He
was accompanied by his daughter. There he got a pointer from
Major A. W. Edwards relative to the construction of the Fargo
& Southwestern Railroad, and started for Bonnersville, then lo
cated on section 11-135-54, where he arrived about sundown.
Here he met Edward Post, a former neighbor in Stearns county,
Minnesota. EdAvard told him of a claim in the valley up stream
where it would be a fine location for a town. There was a good
mill site on the river, but a young man would be there early the
next morning to locate on that claim. Mr. Colton at once hitched
up his oxen, traAreled all night and at daybreak the next morning
found himself stuck in the mud at the mouth of the coulee on
the north side of the river opposite the present Sorenson mill.
Finding that it Avould take a long time to get the wagon out of
the mud, he hitched onto a plow that he had brought along, and
went to breaking along the bank of the river south of the present
residence of Bert Ash, while his daughter got breakfast. The
young man arrived about nine o'clock, but alas, too late, and went
farther up the river, leaving Mr. Colton in undisputed possession
of 160 acres in what is now the city of Lisbon. After breaking
a few acres and making some minor improvement, Mr. Colton
returned to his home in Minnesota to close up his affairs.
In the latter part of September, 1878, Mr. Colton and his
brother-in-law, George Murray, who had arrived from Russell,
N. Y., met by appointment in Casselton and with their families
drove to Mr. Colton 's claim. Here they proceeded at once to
build the first residence in the city of Lisbon. In the bank of
the coulee, just northwest of where the log house stands, they
dug a cellar, set a crotch of a tree at each end, put a pole across
for a ridge pole, set up poles covered with brush and hay, in a
A shape for a roof and covered it with dirt. Here the two fami
lies, consisting of Joseph L. Colton, his wife and three children;
George Murray, his wife Elizabeth and three children, Julius E.,
Theodore and Lottie, ten in all, lived for over a month. Mr.
Colton and family occupied it all winter.

760 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
George Murray took a homestead on section 14, joining the
city limits on the south, and made his filing October 17, 1878.
Mrs. Elizabeth Murray, wife of George Murray, deceased, is
a sister of J. L. Colton. She now lives in a comfortable home
fronting the courthouse, and has the honor of being the oldest
resident of the city of Lisbon. In fact she is the only one of the
first residents, as Mr. Colton moved away years ago, and her
children have resided on farms joining the city.
During the summer of 1879 several families arrived in Lisbon.
Solomon Robinson filed on a part of section 2 August 18, 1879,
and Joshua Robinson on August 28. S. A. Wood also filed on
Harris' addition the same year and Henry Cramer occupied the
land now owned by the Soldiers' Home. Mr. Wood owned the
first team of horses in toAvn. Joseph L. Colton held his claim by
"squatter's rights," and did not file on it until May 18, 1880.
While from the first he intended to found the city of Lisbon, he
did not plat it until September 25, 1880, when he finished the
plat of four blocks, two on each side of Main street, running
south from the river, and platted as the original plat of the city
of Lisbon. He commenced the survey early in June howeArer.
Lisbon is named after Mr. Colton 's former home, Lisbon, N. Y.
Late in July, 1880, Mr. Kinan built the Pioneer Store. His was
the first stock of goods for sale in the city. In August of the
same year/ A. H. Moore and Peter H. Benson built another gen
eral store, and opened it for trade. Mr. Moore is the father of
our townsman, Mills E. Moore. He is now a resident of Cali
fornia. Mr. Benson, now deceased, was a brother of Mrs. Carrie
Fieldstad, who is now a resident of this city.
A postoffice was established with Mrs. J. L. Colton as post
mistress. J. E. Murray was the first mail carrier. Beginning in
January, 1880, he made tri-weekly trips to BonnersA7ille, the
patrons of the office paying for his service. In May, 1880, a star
route mail service was established via ToAver City, and Henry
Cramer carried the first mail. He set a line of brush stakes for
marking out a road to ToAver City. Over this route came an
enormous freight and immigrant traffic until the advent of the
railroad. Mills E. Moore was one of the first to follow this line
of stakes into the city and it is still his home.

HISTORY" OF RANSOM COUNTY 761
The first picnic and celebration held by the citizens in Ran
som county was on July 4, 1879, at George Colton 's grove, near
where his mill afterwards was built.
The Fargo & Southwestern Railroad was completed to Lisbon
in 1882, the first train arriving through the bluff to opposite
Sorenson's mill at five o'clock December 24, 1882. Passengers
and freight were transferred there for a few days when a severe
snoAV storm filled the "big cut" and it was not opened until
April 9, 1883. As soon as construction was commenced on this
line quite a boom struck Lisbon.
The charter for the city of Lisbon was signed in the city of
Yankton on March 19, 1883, by George H. Hand, secretary of
Dakota Territory. The first city election was held on the first
Monday in May following, and the officers elected were : G. B.
Green, mayor; F. P. Allen, city clerk; A. C. Krello, treasurer;
E. J. Ryman, city justice; J. M. Allen, James W. Brown, Henry
Cramer, Edward S. Ellis, James B. Gray and M. P. McArthur,
aldermen. F. P. Allen, now judge of this district, is the only one
of those officers who is now a resident of the city. This was a
memorable election and a hot one. It was held in the register
of deeds' office, then in the back room of the present Sullivan
barber shop, which then stood across the street on the lot now
occupied by Mr. Whitehouse. Mr. Colton was the candidate for
mayor against Mr. Green and was defeated by two votes. The
voters staid out in the street and voted through a small north
window. Several of the old enterprising concerns are still doing a large
business at the old stand of 1881 and 1882. Among the more
prominent ones is the Bremmels waterpower flouring mill. This
mill was started in February, 1882, by J. M. Allen & Co., and
completed that year, and operated by them until 1890, when it
passed into the ownership of the Nelson Milling Company; next
changed to the Enterprise mill, under the management of the
Lisbon Milling Company. Then it came into the hands of the
Sorenson Milling Company, who made a great success of the in
dustry. It is now owned and operated by the Bemmels Brothers
under the title of Bemmels Milling Company. The mill stands on
fine ground on the west bank of the Sheyenne river, near the

762 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
foot of the rapids, and has a power of fifteen feet fall of water.
The millpond backs up the river four miles, and, as the channel
is deep and the banks regular in height, there are no overflowed
marshes or stagnant, fever-breeding pools along its margin. The
pond is an excellent pleasure resort for boating, and four com
modious gasoline launches and several row boats under the own
ership of the Crocker Brothers ply over its glassy surface. No
snags, rushes or weeds obstruct its pure limpid waters, and the
shady groves dotting its borders furnish many a beauty spot
of nature's scenic landscapes. The numerous kinds of fish found
in the streams of the Northwest abound and supply rare sport
for the angler.
The mill is equipped with a complete Hungarian roller system
of grinding and the latest Plansifter method of bolting, with all
the very latest mechanical accompaniments, and has a capacity
of 125 barrels per day, with ample room for handling the out
put, and elevator and storage building for 15,000 bushels of grain.
Especial attention is given to feed grinding custom milling.
The finest patent flour is produced from our No. 1 hard wheat
grown in Ransom county, and all that is not consumed by local
trade finds a ready market in the East.
The mill makes a specialty of grinding macaroni or durum
wheat into flour and into Seminola, which is used in the manu
facture of the food product called macaroni. The demand for
the latter cannot be supplied, and, although the miU is in opera
tion day and night, the reputation gained for its output brings
orders far beyond the capacity of the mill. This is one of the
important industries of the city.
The year 1881 was one of considerable activity around Lisbon,
and the government land was rapidly settled up, the Fort Ran
som reservation was opened for settlement and many Eastern
parties came in. At the close of the year there were fourteen
buildings on Main street. Among them were the Headquarters
Hotel, Patrick Hennessey, proprietor ; John Kinan, J. G. Duncan
and A. H. Moore & Son, general stores; Lucas Brothers' drug
store; J. S. Cole, hardware; Webb Watrous, harness shop, and
the "Lisbon Star," published by H. S. Harcourt; the Colton
building, occupied by the county officers; C. D. Austin, land

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 763
office ; W. K. Smith, land agent ; Hugh Doherty, land agent ; M. E.
Severance, agricultural implements, and Blood's saloon.
The year 1882 was a boom year, and during the season about
280 people located in Lisbon. Those doing business and advertis
ing in the "Lisbon Star" in the issue of November 9, 1882, were
the Ransom County Bank ; Webb Watrous, harness ; Bank of Lis
bon ; M. E. Severance, farm machinery ; George L. Forward ; Peter
Godfrey, Johnson & Brown, Stewart Heme, carpenters and build
ers; and Dakota Lime Company; Blood & Meyer, J. A. Watts,
J. Wood and J. T. Brown, blacksmiths; Moore & Harris, P. W.
Hyndman, Kinan 's Pioneer Store, Gilbertson & Lee, J. G. Dun
can ; C. D. Austin, Knotts & Clow, Doherty & Turner, J. E. Wis
ner, Sparks & Allen, E. S. Ellis, William Silkworth, A. H. Laugh-
line & Co., real estate and loans; M. E. Severance, Laughlin,
Palmer & Co., farm machinery; W. D. Brown and R. M. Davis,
lumber; J. S. Cole, M. P. McArthur, hardware; Lucas Brothers,
drugs; A. B. Herrick, W. W. Bradley, physicians; A. Lebon &
Co., jewelers; Trumble Brothers and Smith, meat market; Sarah
Bullamore, Lisbon livery; Lisbon & Tower City stage line, Bus-
well & Marsh, proprietors; Lisbon flouring mills; Lisbon billiard
and sample room, Banta & Conklin, proprietors; Westbrook &
Co., sample room ; First Chance, Last Chance, C. J. Nelson, propri
etor. There was another paper here then, the "Lisbon Repub
lican," owned and managed by J. L. Colton, and other business
firms advertised in that paper.
Of all the above firms, the ones still engaged in the business
are E. C. Lucas, drugs, and our present mayor, Stuart Heron,
contractor; A. H. Laughlin, real estate; Frank Trumble, J. S.
Cole, hardware, and the only others who are still residents of the
county are J. E. Wisner and C. J. Nelson, M. E. Moore and T. J.
Harris. This issue of the "Star" was edited by Charles A. Everett, pro
prietor, and states the "Star" was established June 2, 1881.
Among the locals is found: "Explanatory — Foreman crippled,
devil gone, printing for election, four pages only ; do better next
week." Another, "More than $13,000 passed over that hand
some new counter at the Bank of Lisbon yesterday." On its
front page is the usual election roster, with the following head-

764 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
lines, announcing the result of the first election held in Ransom
county: "Victory again has rewarded the untiring zeal of the
intelligent voters. ' ' The result of the convention endorsed by the
voice of the people.
The proprietor of Headquarters Hotel was a unique character.
He used to stand on the front porch, in his shirt sleeves, with
sleeves rolled up above the elbows, vest unbuttoned and one sus
pender gone, feet shod in brogans, to meet every incoming and
departing stage, in sunshine and rain, sometimes with the ther
mometer at forty below. His authority over the affairs of the
hotel was supreme, and any kick made by a customer was always
settled with his mandate, "If ye don't loike me style, ye can
lave me place or go out."
The firm of Laughlin, Palmer & Co. did business opposite in
1882, and shipped a carload of potatoes taken on debt in Min
nesota at forty cents a bushel; sold here at three dollars per
bushel. Pat used to wade through the mud across the street
regularly three times a day, Sundays included, with a half bushel
Irish market basket on his bare arm for potatoes to supply his
tables, and pay a dollar and a half cash. One day when the rain
came down in torrents he waded as usual — there were no side
walks then. I said to him: "Pat, why do you bother with these
half -bushel dabs? Why don't you get a quantity at once and
keep them in your cellar?" His quick reply was, "Be jasus, I
can't afford it." Pat was never seen with a coat on or his vest
buttoned. In 1909 the city has taken on new life and a solid substantial
growth. It has an acetylene gas lighting plant, excellent water
works, supplied from an artesian well, discharging into a large
tower tank on the hill, giving fine pressure, and nearly four miles
of mains; a fine sewer system put in at a cost of $50,000; well
graded streets, cement sidewalks all over the city, and an effi
cient fire company with the full equipment of hose, reels, hooks
and ladders, etc. It is often remarked by strangers that there
must be a boom on in Lisbon. Such is not a fact, but the city has
a substantial, rapid growth. Every year witnesses the comple
tion of several business blocks and a large number of residences.
Last year an armory was built at a cost of over $20,000, largely

HISTORY" OF RANSOM COUNTY 765
by contributions from the citizens. The building is 50x100 feet,
with basement built of Plebron pressed brick and furnished in
first-class shape, Avith all the necessary rooms and appliances.
This season (1909) there are two large, important public build
ings under construction, the parochial school and the new hotel.
The St. Aloysius Parochial School is an educational institu
tion of a high order, under the management of the Catholic so
ciety. The building is thirty-two by fifty-eight, with basement
and three stories above, erected of Hebron pressed brick, a North
Dakota product, at a cost of $15,000 unfurnished. It is fitted
with all modern conveniences, the basement receiving especial
care in fitting the kitchen, dining room, laundry, etc. The upper
story will be finished into sleeping apartments for girls, and the
two intermediate floors into school rooms. The always progres
sive citizens of Lisbon have been very generous in their contri
butions to the erection of this school, and an individual donation
of $1,000 was received from Sheldon. The school will be opened
September 1, and, Avhile under Catholic management, non Cath
olic pupils will be admitted, and the best of non-sectarian edu
cational facilities accorded. The school and building is a credit
to the city and county, and the watchful care of the society in
management of the school is a sufficient guarantee that not only
the education will be cared for, but that the morals of the stu
dents will be carefuUy guarded. Father Fogarty, the capable,
faithful pastor of the Lisbon St. Aloysius church, deserves the
commendation of the public-spirited citizens for his successful
efforts in locating the school in the city.
St. Aloysius Catholic church, Lisbon, is now about thirty
years old. The present pastor, Father Patrick Fogarty, came to
Lisbon, N. D., 1902, in July. At the beginning he had charge of
seven parishes; in 1909 is in charge of three, Lisbon, Englevale
and Verona. He makes Lisbon his home.
The spring of 1908 witnessed a calamity to the city in the
burning of the Horton Hotel, thus depriving the public of proper
accommodations. The new hotel is now under construction. It
is built of Hebron pressed brick, three stories high, with a front
age of eighty feet, and will cost $25,000. The hotel will be fin
ished with modern, airy rooms, and every convenience for the

766 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
comfort and safety of the guests. It is built largely by contri
butions of the citizens, the city donating the site. It will be
opened to the public about October 1 under first-class manage
ment, and will fill a long-felt requirement.
There are two important factories adjoining Lisbon in the
new concrete industry. The Laughlin Pressed Stone Company
have a large plant south of the city and take contracts for the
erection of cement block buildings. The factory building is
thirty by sixty-four feet, two stories high, built of cement blocks,
with wing sheds twenty-eight by eighty attached. It stands at
the base of a naturally proportioned bank of aggregate fifty feet
high, covering over fifty acres, and nearby is a sand pit of the only
good plastering sand found in eastern North Dakota. The strata
is eighteen feet deep, covering about 14 acres. The water is sup
plied from a non-freezing spring of pure water piped into the
building and pumped into a storage tank in the second story
by a windmill with ricker shaft connections. This gives pressure
for sprinkling the blocks. It has the largest natural supply of
material found in the Northwest, east of Montana. The demand
for its products exceeds the capacity, and a new, modern process
will be put in this fall at an expense of $3,000.
Ole Harrison has another factory north of town and is doing
an extensive business in brick and block rock.
Another important industry is the Lisbon Tannery, Otto Jen-
son, proprietor. All kinds of leather, furs and robes are his spe
cialties. Every branch of mercantile trade is fully represented.
Stores, shops and supplies of all kinds are fully represented and
handled. Every merchant and dealer in the city is prosperous,
and the stocks of merchandise are large and ample to supply
public requirements.
Societies. — Among the strong fraternal organizations well es
tablished and having lodge halls are the three Masonic bodies —
Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, which hold their meet
ings in the Masonic Temple and have a club room attachment,
open every afternoon and evening. The Knights of Pythias have
recently fitted up fine quarters and have a nice membership ; also
the Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen, United Workmen, Yeomen,
Grand Army boys and Relief Corps.

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 767
Churches.
The first sermon preached in Lisbon was delivered by Rev.
Brasted, now of the Children's Home Society in Fargo, early in
the spring of 1881, in Kinnan's Hall. Rev. Eli P. LaCell, Meth
odist Episcopal, arrived here with his famhy from New York
state in April, 1881, and was the first resident pastor. The first
religious organization was effected in the latter part of April,
1882, and articles of incorporation filed with the secretary of the
territory. The board of trustees, as incorporated, consisted of
the following named residents : C. D. Austin, J. E. Wisner, A. M.
Allen, M. E. Severance and A. H. McLaughlin. The society was
named "The Newport Union Church Association of Lisbon," so
named in honor of Colonel R. N. Newport, of St. Paul, who do
nated $500 towards its erection. This society erected a large
tent near the present residence of Stewart Heron, and the serv
ices were held in that during the summer by Rev. E. P. LaCell,
and Rev. Pollock, a Congregationalist preacher, who had taken
a claim north of town, and who was noted for his peculiar elo
quence and conspicuous figure when broncho riding. In the fall
of 1882 the Union Society built the first church on Mrs. Stark's
lot, joining Duncan's store on the north. It was built of cheap,
rough pine lumber, with planed, unpainted seats. Externally it
resembled a cattle shed, and some wicked wag named it "God's
barn." Services were held in it all winter, conducted by Revs.
E. P. LaCell, L. S. Knotts and E. W. Day. Owing to defective
incorporation, it was ascertained that the Union Society could
not hold real estate, and their subscription list was transferred
to the Baptist Society, who erected a church in the spring of
1883, under the supervision of Rev. Livingston.
Rev. E. W. Day, pastor of the Presbyterian church, came to
Lisbon in 1882, and remained until 1896. Through his efforts the
present Presbyterian church was built.
Father Tierney organized the Catholic society in 1882, and
was the first pastor of the present church.
Other church edifices were soon after erected. There are now
six good capacious church buildings, where weekly services are
held. Each one has a large membership and congregation, and

768 ^HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
a large Sunday school, and the pulpits are supplied by earnest,
talented resident ministers. The denominations represented are:
Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Lutheran, Baptist
and Episcopal. Each society has its accompanying missionary
and aid societies. The Episcopal church of the Holy Trinity is
a very unique and handsome structure, erected of Scotch granite
boulders, found among the bluffs of the classic Sheyenne. The
Norwegian Lutheran society has a fine stone structure and a
large congregation. North Dakota Soldiers' Home, Lisbon, N. D.
The home has a charming site on the left bank of the Shey
enne river, surrounded with heavy natural timber, consisting of
majestic elms and oaks, interspersed with wild plums, currents
and a variety of native wild fruits.
A bill for the location of the Soldiers' Home was introduced
in the house February 24, 1890, by R. N. Stevens, who at that
time was a member from Ransom county, passed the house Febru
ary 27 and the senate March 7, 1890, by a unanimous vote.
The first board of commissioners composed of William A.
Bentley, department commander of the G. A. R. department of
North Dakota; Major George I. Foster, Colonel R. H. Hankin-
son, Captain N. Linton and Captain Harris Gardner, who were
appointed by Governor Burke. The commissioners met for the
first time at Lisbon, June 9, 1891, and elected General Bentley
chairman of the board. At this meeting little was done except
to perfect an organization and to discuss general plans for a
building to be used as a home and to secure a site.
On August 14, 1891, the board at a regular meeting resolved
to purchase what is known as the "Cramer Farm" at a price of
$3,500, which is situated within the corporate limits of the city
of Lisbon and only a few minutes walk from the railroad depot.
The tract consists of eighty acres, forty of which are covered
with timber, the balance consisting of as fine farming land as lies
in the famed "Sheyenne valley," and is in a high state of culti
vation. The river touches the farm at two places, thereby insur
ing a never failing supply of running water.
Plans made for the home by Orff Brothers, of Minneapolis,

HISTORY" OF RANSOM COUNTY" 769
Minn., were adopted, and on December 8, 1891, the contract was
let to C. A. Leek, of Minneapolis, for the sum of $14,741, after
Avhich a few changes were made and the cost exceeded that
amount. The building is forty by eighty-four, two stories and a
basement, and is built of first quality Menominee sand moulded
pressed brick of a rich dark maroon color, with Duluth red sand
stone trimmings and Kasota stone door sills and steps. The build
ing is finished in natural wood and all the floors of oak. The
basement is eight feet high and consists of boiler room, fuel and
vegetable rooms, bath room, laundry, etc. The first floor consists
of parlor, reading and dining room, office, kitchen, pantry and
serving rooms. The second floor is divided into two dormitories
designed to accommodate fifteen inmates each, a hospital with a
capacity of six patients, a lavatory with four marble wash bowls,
bath rooms, etc. In the attic is placed a tank with capacity of
thirty barrels for water supply, the tank is supplied from a Avell
by a pump operated by a three-horsepower Rider's hot air engine.
The home Avas opened for the old soldiers in August, 1893,
under the command of Colonel W. W. Mellvain, and his wife
as matron. State Bank of Lisbon.
Capital, $50,000; established 1882; incorporated 1890 under
our state banking law. Officers: Andrew Sandager, president
L. B. Chamberlain, vice president; Harley S. Grover, cashier
Frank L. Robinson, assistant cashier; W. F. Grange, bookkeeper
Elmer T. Sandager, assistant bookkeeper; Miss Lulu J. Fox,
stenographer. In mentioning the banks of this section, we must not fail to
speak in high terms of this institution as it does a large business
and every member of the community has the utmost confidence
in it. Lisbon is well served by this up-to-date and sound bank and
these gentlemen attend to our business in the banking line cour
teously and satisfactorily.
They are Avell equipped in every respect, having strong safes
and vaults, and the funds are fully protected and insured against
fire, burglary, defalcation or other contingencies.
No essential is lacking that should be found in a groAving and

770 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
properly conducted bank, and small as well as large accounts are
received with due appreciation. All transactions are carried on
with scrupulous care and honor and a bank of this kind would
reflect credit on any town. A general banking business is done,
farm loans made, and officials and directors may well take pride
in the success of this institution.
Messrs. Sandager, Chamberlain & Grover stand high with our
people and are thoroughly responsible, furnishing Lisbon and
the country around with the A7ery best kind of banking.
Citizens Bank of Lisbon: Martin Jones, president; Neil
Campbell, vice president; George C. Jacobson, cashier; capital,
$20,000. We desire to make special reference to our banking facilities,
and this institution, though not long with us, is doing well. It
has proved that there Avas ample field for it here. Our part of
the state is developing rapidly and the Citizens Bank is serving
our people very acceptably. In fact, it enjoys high standing
with all classes. It is well equipped in every respect, only the
safest kind of banking is transacted, and all depositors receive
affable and honorable treatment. The banking rooms are en
tirely new, the A'aults absolutely impregnable and their funds
are fully protected against fire, burglary, defalcation or contin
gency of any kind. The policy of the bank is to keep business
entirely under its control, its resources aArailable in every emer
gency, and whether you deposit much or little, your account will
always be welcome there.
A new and substantial bank like this always proves a great
benefit to any town, and we are glad indeed that this institution
is with us.
Messrs. Jones, Jacobson and Campbell are gentlemen of high
personal character, influence and business capacity and they com
mand the full confidence of every member of this community.
Their new bank building which they own is a great credit to the
town. Buttz and Colton Contest.
Joseph L. Colton had located a homestead on the Sheyenne
river at the place now known as the city of Lisbon. The county

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 771
of Ransom was then unorganized and contained by few settlers,
yet the public lands were being fast taken up. At this time there
were two established postoffices in the county. One, known as
BonnersviUe, about ten miles east of Lisbon, also located on the
Sheyenne river at Bonner's ford. The other was located at Fort
Ransom, about fifteen miles up the river, northwest from Lisbon.
Each of these three points — BonnersviUe, Lisbon and Fort Ran
som — had parties interested in getting the county organized with
a view of having the county seat located at their place.
Major A. W. Edwards, the well known newspaper man of
Fargo, Cass county, was requested by Joseph L. Colton to aid
him in securing the appointment of commissioners by Gov.
Nehemiah G. Ordway, then governor of the territory, who was
residing at the capital, Yankton. Major C, W. Buttz was then
also residing at Fargo, practicing law. Major Edwards knew
the personal friendship that existed between Governor Ordway
and Major Buttz for many years previous to their coming to the
territory of Dakota. Consequently Major Edwards called on
Major Buttz at his law office in Fargo and introduced Mr. Colton
and explained the situation in the unorganized territory, Ransom
county, and Mr. Colton 's desire to secure such organization, with
the view of locating the county seat upon his homestead at the
place where the city of Lisbon now exists. Major Buttz entered
into a written contract with Mr. Colton, dated February 5, 1881,
by which Major Buttz agreed, among other things, to have the
said Joseph L. Colton, Frank Probert and Gilbert Hansen ap
pointed by Governor Ordway county commissioners for the pur
pose of organizing said Ransom county.
Within sixty days from the date of said contract the commis
sioners were appointed and the county seat was located at Lis
bon. Another provision of said contract required Major Buttz
to induce the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, who had sur
veyed a preliminary route for a projected branch of this road
southwest from Fargo, to continue and cross the Sheyenne river
upon said Colton 's land and establish a depot thereon at said
Lisbon. The said railroad company had, previous to the date of
this contract with Major Buttz, made three preliminary surveys
of the projected route, trying to find the most feasible crossing

772 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
of the Sheyenne river. One of these preliminary surveys crossed
the river several miles southeast from Lisbon and another crossed
about six miles northwest of Lisbon, near a place known as Joe
Bruntin's ford. The third preliminary survey was near where
Colton took his homestead and was about three miles south of
the town of Buttzville.
By the provisions of the contract entered into by Major Buttz
and Mr. Colton, Colton was to plat 120 acres of his homestead
into lots and blocks, and convey of said lots and blocks a quan
tity sufficient to make sixty acres to Major Buttz as his compen
sation, conditioned, however, upon the county being organized
within sixty days from the date of said contract and the Fargo
Southwestern branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad should
cross the Sheyenne river at Lisbon and locate a depot upon Col-
ton's land. Out of this sixty acres of land that Mr. Colton agreed
to convey to Major Buttz for his services as indicated in said
contract, Major Buttz was to convey to the Fargo Southwestern
Railroad Company such portions of said sixty acres in town lots
and blocks as might be agreed upon between Major Buttz and
the railroad corporation. Major Buttz negotiated Avith R. F.
Delano, the chief constructing engineer of the Fargo South-
Avestern branch, and the railroad company agreed that if they
finally crossed the riA-er at Lisbon they would locate their depot
upon Mr. Colton 's land, and would expect to have conveyed to
the company forty acres in town lots and blocks, to be selected
as mentioned in the contract between Major Buttz and Mr. Col
ton, by taking alternate lots and blocks.
The records of the county of Ransom show that Mr. Colton
conveyed to the railroad corporation town lots and blocks in
number equal to forty acres, but refused to convey to Major
Buttz the remaining town lots and blocks, consisting of the re
maining twenty acres, as contemplated in the contract. There
upon Major Buttz commenced an action in the district court, be
fore Judge William B. McConnell, judge of the third judicial
district, which includes Cass county, on or about December 12,
1881, for the purpose of compelling Mr. Colton to specifically
perform his part of the contract, May, 1883, amended February,
1883, by leave granted, upon order of the court, to make more

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 773
specific complaint, again amended. The case was tried before
Judge McConnell at Fargo, in Cass county, at the term of the
district court.
After hearing all the evidence in the argument of the attor
neys, Judge McConnell found as a matter of fact that Major
Buttz had fully performed his part of the contract entered into
by Mr. Colton, and was entitled to recover the remaining twenty
acres which had been platted into town lots and blocks, and
directed a decree to be entered requiring Mr. Colton to specifically
perform his part of the contract and convey the lots pledged to
Major Buttz. From this judgment of the court Mr. Colton ap
pealed to the supreme court of the territory.
Mr. Colton 's principal defense appears to have been, as shown
by the records, that the court ought not to enforce a performance
of the contract, as it was one for influence or lobby purposes and
therefore it was against public policy, such a contract as the
court should not enforce.
The supreme court of the territory set aside the judgment of
the district court and granted Mr. Colton a new trial, princi
pally upon the ground that the contract was one for influence
and against public policy. The court herein in its decision,
among other things, found the following as to the organization
of the county. Quotation in reference to appointing board of
county commissioners within the time named in contract, which
was sixty days, as required by the contract.
Upon the case being retried in the district court before Judge
Rose, he held (in substance) that under the decision of the su
preme court granting a new trial, that 'Major Buttz was not en
titled to recover, and found in favor of Mr. Colton, the defendant.
Major Buttz did not perfect an appeal to the supreme court from
the decision of Judge Rose ; consequently the case ended.
Bench and Bar of Ransom County, North Dakota.
The first attorney to locate and practice was W. K. Smith,
an Englishman and an old soldier, who afterwards became county
judge. The second was P. J. McCumber. Third, J. J. Rugers.
The latter became register of land office at Grand Forks; later
moved to Alaska. Hugh Dougherty came next, and now located

774 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
at Phoenix, Ariz. C. D. Austin came in 1881 and left in 1893;
now of Minneapolis. H. R. Turner, now of Fargo.
Reuben W. Stevens and P. H. Rooske associated in the spring
of 1883, under the firm name of Stevens & Rooske. Goodman,
Yammons and Vanfeldt. Goodman was afterwards first attorney
general of the state of North Dakota. Goodman and H. B. Van
feldt removed, in the summer of 1893, to Salt Lake City; L. W.
Yammons to Minneapolis, Minn., and later to Minot, where he
is now located.
In the winter of 1884, Parker & Allen located at Lisbon, and,
after spending one winter, moved to Dickey county, North Da
kota. Allen afterwards was speaker of the house at Bismarck.
All the rest of the bar of Lisbon have studied and been ad
mitted in Lisbon.
Judge F. P. Allen, now district judge, also studied and was
admitted. Other and present members of the bar of Lisbon are : S. D.
Adams, T. A. Curtis, Charles S. Ego.
Patrick H. Rooske was admitted to the bar in Chicago, March,
1882. In May of the same year he arrived in Lisbon, and is now
a practicing lawyer of twenty-seven years in Ransom county,
¦ North Dakota, twenty-one of which have been spent in the First
National Bank building site. He is the only member of the
original bar of Lisbon left. He has seen many come and go and
has handled all kinds of cases.
At Sheldon in the early days : Scott Sanford, now deputy
United States marshal of Helena, Mont. Robert J. MitcheU, now
deceased, brought out Mr. Sanford in 1886. He was a school
fellow of President James Garfield.
Hon. P. H. Rooske was elected to the senate in the fall of
1894; served in the sessions of 1895-97, and was on committee
that adopted 1895 code.
At Enderlin, N. D., are Conrad KreUe and H. W. Tohey.
I. E. Arntson, the present county auditor of Ransom county,
North Dakota, was born in Norway, son of Erik and Peternelia
Arntson, natives of Norway, pioneers and substantial farmers
of Owego township, Ransom county. In 1881 the father of our
subject emigrated with the early settlement of Owego township,

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 775
and there took up a claim which he proved up on. He and his
wife still live near the old homestead on another piece of land.
(See historical part of this work for an experience of Mrs. Arnt
son.) They reared a family of five sons, of whom the subject of
this sketch is the oldest in order of birth.
At the age of eight he crossed into the new world. Like most
farmer boys, he grew up on the home farm and attended the rural
schools; as he grew up to manhood attended Concordia College,
Moorhead, and St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn, and prepared
himself to teach school, which he followed for ten years in Owego
township, Ransom county. After his life as a teacher he took
up farming on his own account, and was a successful farmer
and stock raiser.
The citizens nominated him for county auditor, which office
he now holds — his first public office. At the primaries his oppo
nent was Thomas Gilbertson, the present chairman of the county
board. In the spring election Mr. Arntson received a majority
of 300 votes. At the fall election of 1908 he was duly elected
county auditor. He has for his deputy, Mrs. Ferguson, wife of
the retiring auditor. She is a lady of ability and her experience
has often been helpful. Mr. Arntson was fortunate in retaining
such an efficient officer.
Mr. Arntson has served as a delegate to county and state Re
publican conventions, representing his party. He married Miss
Carrie Walla, a former school teacher, and two sons were born
to them, Nels and Erik.
Our subject is a member of the Lutheran church, M. W. A.,
and A. F. & A. M. City of Enderlin.
The Soo Railroad made their first survey into what is now
Enderlin in the fall of 1890, and began construction work in 1891.
Enderlin was not heard of until about 1892, when a bank was
organized by Edward Pierce, of Sheldon, he being president and
S. T. Wolfe, cashier. The directors were John H. Smith, A. 0.
Runice, James K. Bantes, Patrick Pierce and Edward Pierce. The
bank was known as the Enderlin State Bank and had a capital
of $5,000. In 1896, when the voters decided to incorporate a
village, Fred Underwood, a man of push and energy, moved from

776 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Sheldon to locate in Enderlin ; he became the cashier of Enderlin
State Bank, succeeding S. T. Wolfe. The board of directors
then became : President Edward Pierce, James K. Banks, George
Fowler, Patrick Pierce and Fred Underwood. In June, 1897,
Fred Underwood was succeeded by Thomas Pierce; the bank
retaining the same management and capital increasing from time
to time until it has reached a capital of $50,000, with a surplus
of $15,000. The First National Bank was organized by A. L. Ober as
president, in 1902 ; H. E. Blair, cashier. Mr. Blair was succeeded
by George E. Matteson. This bank was absorbed by the Enderlin
State Bank, July 1, 1907.
The Citizens State Bank Avas organized July 16, 1907, by H.
Thorson, president ; J. M. Thorson, cashier ; capital, $25,000. Di
rectors : John J. Greeye, T. R. Foster, E. F. Bruhn, W. W. Shaw,
E. O. Fossett, Tobey. Newspapers.
The first paper published in Enderlin was the ' ' Enderlin Jour
nal," in 1893, by C. L. Allen, now one of the proprietors of the
"Free Press," Lisbon. He had the first completed building in
Enderlin, and planted the first trees. The "Journal" was sub
sequently absorbed by the "Ransom County Independent," in
the year 1895. The latter paper was established by C. H. Potter,
June 1, 1894, and was operated and controlled by him until June,
1905, when the plant was purchased by T. L. Langley, who still
publishes this organ.
The "Enderlin Headlight" is the latest in the editorial world,
established in the spring of 1909 by C. A. Krells and A. R. Knight,
the former of Lisbon, the latter of Buffalo, N. D. ; was with the
"Buffalo Express."
The first public hall was Powers', owned by O. S. Powers.
Pete Burtness had a general store on the first floor.
The first religious services were held in the Enderlin State
Bank under the auspices of the Enderlin Christian Association,
for all denominations. Services were also held in the depot.
The first minister was Rev. Wood. The first regular church
established was the Methodist Episcopal, by Rev. Bell, in

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 777
1894. The present edifice is built .of concrete blocks at a
cost of about $20,000; has a membership of seventy-five.
The Presbyterians shortly after organized a church and the pas
tors have been Rev. Clatworthy and Rev. B. A. Fahl. The Nor
wegian Lutheran church, the Swedish Methodist and the Epis
copal church are served from Lisbon, and the Catholic church
from Sheldon by Rev. McDonald.
The village of Enderlin was incorporated as a city on August
27, 1898. The first hotel was the present Hotel Hilton, opened
in 1892 by the Soo Railroad for the accommodation of its em
ployees, and is still controlled by them. W. A. Thompson came
to Enderlin when the round house was first established, was its
first foreman, and acted as station agent and served in this ca
pacity for ten or twelve years. Goodman & Lanness opened a
general store in 1892, and were later succeeded by E. F. Bruhn
& Bro., and now rank as one of the substantial firms of the city.
W. J. Loomis had the first harness shop; Henry Rustad, hard
ware, lumber and farm machinery; I. T. Thompson, hardware;
Pete Burtness, a general store; C. M. Engle, hardware; W. G.
Engle, furniture ; C. E. Engle, drugs ; and many other enterprises
which go to make up a prosperous and progressive city.
The present police magistrate, Fred Underwood, circulated a
petition in 1898, and is said to be the father of the incorporation.
Land surrounding Enderlin is now (1909) valued at fifty dollars
per acre.
The present city officers are : Mayor, O. O. Goldburg ; H. J.
Freeland, Gust Oehlke, C. M. Engle, P. P. Burtness, C. L. Van-
derworst and Peter Sunby, councilmen ; E. T. Danielson, auditor ;
H. W. Tobey, city attorney; John J. Gruye, treasurer; Fred Un
derwood, police magistrate.
The city has an electric light plant, an artesian well with 166
pounds pressure, three-fourths of a mile of water mains, and a
fire department consisting of two hose carts, hook and ladder
truck, chemical engine, etc. Schools.
The schools of Enderlin are on a par with those of any town
of its size, and superior to those of many towns who boast of a

778 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
larger population. In addition to the usual graded schools,
which are housed in well constructed modern buildings, with all
conveniences for health and knowledge, and in addition the town
and surrounding country support a state high school with eleven
teachers. A diploma granted by this institution admits the holder
to any of the universities. The school is supplied with a splendid
library of several thousand volumes of standard Avorks.
Sheldon.
Sheldon is an enterprising city in the northeastern part of
Ransom county. It is a beautiful, neat collection of fine build
ings, shady groves and cosy homes. The surrounding farming
community is very prosperous and there has not yet been a crop
failure in that vicinity.
By permission the following paper read at the Old Settlers'
Re-union by Hon. Ed. Pierce, who is serving his second term as
state senator from Ransom county. This copy was obtained
through the courtesy of the "Sheldon Progress," one of the
newsiest and brightest newspapers in the state. Mr. Pierce is
one of the leading lights in the state senate of North Dakota,
an untiring worker for the welfare of his constituents and the
state at large. He settled as a boy with his parents on a farm
in Cass county a few miles north of Sheldon in 1879, and worked
as a section hand on the railroad. He hauled the second load
of lumber to build the first building in Sheldon, and largely
through his untiring energy that beautiful little city has grown
up. His career has been one of success, a marked exponent of
the condition of one of the grandest features of American citi
zenship, which places the poor boy on an equal Avith the rich
one, and permits the one who is born in humbleness and poverty
to, through his own ability, slowly climb the ladder of life until
he reaches the pinacle of success and individual achievement.
Sheldon now has three banks, general stores, and every line
of dealers well represented. A large number of farmers have
rented their farms and moved into toAA-n to educate their chil
dren. Her schools are of the best, her churches ample, and all
her appointments and surroundings conducive to the maintenance
of happy, prosperous homes. Many of the old timers still live

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 779
there, some of them retired and some engaged in business. Her
people are energetic, progressive, and full of the characteristic
western "ginger" and "snap."
Sheldon in the Long Ago.
Senator Ed. Pierce's Contribution to the Old Settlers'
Symposium. 1906.
This is not intended to be a literary production, but just what
was asked for, a few dates and statistics of the early day history
in Sheldon. The reason for Sheldon's being was apparent in 1880, when
the settlements of Jenksville, Owego and BonnersviUe, began to
produce sufficient to warrant looking for a market. Prior to
that time their grain was hauled from twenty to fifty miles, and
supplies the same.
The Jenksville settlement Avas most active and aggressive,
and among its early settlers were Robert Anderson, in 1880,
with his sons, John, Gilbert, James, Robert and Joe, all of whom
are with us yet. There were Shea Healy in 1878, Pierce, Bystrom,
Bauerschmidt, Brick and others in 1879, and in 1880 the bulk of
the remaining lands were taken by Dablow, Cosgrove, Scholin-
ger, Westphal, Boehms, Fraedrichs, Pattersons, Mcintosh,
Cowans, Fowlers, Norris, Lindermans, and a host of others. For
many years this continued to be the best settlement tributary to
Sheldon. They were foremost in the building of schools,
churches, bridges and roads, and as hustlers for the railroad.
At that time even the Maple river commanded a good deal
of respect. I recall that in April, 1881, a lot of fellows accus
tomed to the antics of the Canadian streams, volunteered to build
a bridge on what is now the Tregloan farm, and under the
directions of George Patterson, commenced on the ice in the
morning, built cribs of heavy oaks and elm logs, twenty feet
high, decked them with stringers and floors weighing hundreds
of tons, and before night the little creek broke loose, and in ten
minutes there wasn't a log, block, bolt or tool within the sight
of the bridge, and the builders were looking on with open-mouth
wonder at what happened to them.

780 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
The settlement of Owego and BonnersviUe were old at this
time, but not much of the land was filed on until in Owego, John
Knudson Neste, filed on November 20, 1878 ; Helmuth Schultz, on
June 28, 1878 ; S. R. Day, on December 14, 1877 ; Frank Probert,
on July 2, 1879 ; Gust Mueller, on October 7, 1879, and in Bon
nersviUe, John A. Kratt, on June 13, 1879, and Rhinehart, on
May 28, 1879; Peter Bonner, on November 27, 1878; Julius
Brocker, on October 23, 1880 ; John McClusker, on July 20, 1880,
and Louis Clement on December 1, 1877.
In 1880 the greatest number of the settlers in Maple River
filed, the Hansons, Stevensons, Fosses, Wolds, Christiansons, Pau-
setts, and others, and moved in early in the spring of 1881.
Those of the greatest influence in starting the Fargo & South
western Railway, were D. B. Wilcox, C. F. Kindred and A. J.
Harwood. Wilcox is now mining in Idaho, Kindred is vice-presi
dent of the Pennsylvania Railway line, Harwood is dead. They
surveyed the line in 1880, passing then about five miles north of
the present location, but later changed the route to get the bene
fit of the traffic from the rich valley of the Sheyenne. It must
be remembered that thirty years ago it was believed that the
high prairie was a desert, and the man who settled more than a
mile from the river and timber was looked upon with a good
deal of suspicion as to his sanity. The survey was completed,
however, in the fall of 1880, although slightly changed in the
spring of 1881. Goodman and Green moA7ed out from Fargo and
established a store three or four miles east of Sheldon, expecting
the town to locate there. On June 22, 1881, Wilcox had secured
the location of the present townsite by the railroad company,
bought this section 17 for $3,200, but had no money to pay for it,
and let it go to E. E. Sheldon three weeks later for $3,840.
Sheldon platted the village and sold off a few lots, deeded half
of the plat to the railroad company for locating the town here,
and in February, 1882, sold Avhat was left to Horton & Detlor
for $8,000.
The first train, — construction train laying track — reached
Sheldon on November 4, 1 882, and Lisbon on December 22, of the
same year. A mixed train was run off and on through the win
ter, the regular train service was inaugurated April 1, 1883.

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 781
Quite a large railroad crew wintered on the present depot site
in tents, and the N. P. Elevator Company had a flat house ready
to take in grain, in charge of Adam Goodman, on the site of this
park before the rails reached it. During the fall and winter
nearly 300,000 bushels of wheat was marketed, and the rule was
to get into line at the elevator before breakfast and get unloaded
after supper. Adam did not hurry any more then than he does
now. The plat of the village was completed on August 15, 1881,
and the town was incorporated on August 18, 1884. The first
board of trustees were Carl E. Rudd, Adam Goodman and James
K. Banks; Charley Cole was clerk; Marion Grange, treasurer;
Si Durgin, marshal. Its first newspaper, "The Enterprise," was
established and the first number printed, on February 27, 1885.
In passing, there is food for thought in the treatment re
ceived from, and accorded to, railroads in those days, and in
later years. At that time we were paying five cents per mile
for travel, and fifteen cents per bushel for hauling wheat to Du
luth. When the right-of-way agents went over the line, High
land township farmers offered to donate the right-of-way and pay
bonuses of $50 to $500 in work, to get the railway in.
Years later when the Soo came fares had been reduced
forty per cent and freights thirty per cent, and yet we taxed
them from $20 to $50 per acre for right-of-way, and in many in
stances made them fight to get it at that.
The first general business house established in Sheldon was
the store of Karl E. Rudd, which was opened on September 15,
1881, although the store of Goodman & Green was in operation
for several months previous, a few miles east of town, and was
moved in and opened for business on the old Goodman site a
few days later.
Our first banking institution was opened by I. C. Gaylord at
the present post office site on July 9, 1883.
One of the most important of public utilities, and which the
village for over twenty years has reason to congratulate itself,
is the Sheldon Opera House, opened by its present owner.
Chauncey Durgin, on July 4, 1885. No town in the state of
Sheldon's population has as commodious and as useful a building

782 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
for the accommodation of public gatherings of all kinds, and
our obligations to Mr. Durgin ought to be recognized much more
substantially than it is.
The church societies, the first services were held by the Cath
olics in the Jenksville settlement by Father Stephan, one of the
most noted of the middle-day missionaries, now occupying an im
portant post in the administration of Indian affairs at Washing
ton, although nearly ninety years of age. In 1878 and 1879 his
journeys from Moorhead were generally made on foot, and
services held in the cabins of the early settlers, many of them
driving twenty miles to attend, and rarely Avith sufficient room
indoors to permit them all to enter. Beginning with the fall of
1881, services were held occasionally in Fowler's Hall, now occu
pied by George Severson, until the fall of 1883, AA7hen the first
half of the present church building was erected under the ad
ministration of ReA\ Father Tierney.
Jenksville Avas also the first place of the Presbyterian Society,
organized by Smith, Patterson, Fowler, and other families, in the
early spring of 1882, and supplied at first by the ReA7. Mr. Pollock,
a missionary, holding services in the school house at Jenksville,
and later in the Sheldon school house ; no regular ordained min
ister being assigned until 1884, when the society Avas placed in
charge of the Rev. Edgar W. Day, who served them for many
years and whose departure was so keenly regretted by every
person in the community. Their present church building was
erected in 1885, very largely through the efforts of Dr. Henning,
noAV of Fargo.
There seems to be no Arery accurate date of the early history
of the Methodist church at Sheldon, although the society was
large and active from the beginning of the settlement. To the
Rev. Henry Gram appears to be due most of the credit for the
work accomplished prior to statehood, the period to be covered
by this history, and the church building Avas not completed until
1892. As usual all over North Dakota the cause of education re
ceived early attention. School districts were organized before
the advent of the railroad. A school house was constructed early

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 783
in 1882, and to Miss Jennie Gram belongs the credit of opening
Sheldon's first school days on September 9, 1882.
Prior to 1890 the village averaged four open saloons, paying
to the town a revenue of about $83 per month in all, and the
county about twice that amount. Their average sales of whiskey,
beer and other intoxicants, as near as can be ascertained, were
about $3,600 per month. The cost of regulating them appeared
in the marshal's salary which was then $60 per month, a night
man or deputy, half the time at the same salary, and the village
justice's office was worth about $70 per month. It is not clear
that any person living today was any better off for the existence
of these institutions for ten years, nor would be had they
continued. The first Old Settlers ' Union was held on July 21, 1906, and it
is hoped that it may be followed by a hundred equally enjoyable.
Buttzville.
Among the A'illages of Ransom county is Buttzville, situated
six miles northeast of Lisbon the county seat. The village has
a population of about 200 souls, and is a great grain center, and
is located on section 17, Casey township, which was originally
owned by the Casey & Carrington Land Company. When this
was platted they asked permission of Major Charles Wilson
Buttz to name it Buttzville, as he owned adjoining lands to it,
sections 8, 5 and part of 6. Soon after it was platted and named
Buttzville, Major Buttz induced his two brothers, John R. and
David H. Buttz, to locate. David H. located at Buttzville and
built the first residence in the place, also the first grain elevator,
which he conducted for a number of years. He still owns his
residence in the village, and has large interests in the state of
Washington, at Spokane.
John R. Buttz owned adjoining land to his brother, the major,
and David H. Buttz, who purchased from the Casey & Carring
ton Land Company, 5,000 acres, broke it, and farmed it for sev
eral years. When John R, died, Major Buttz purchased the
estate. The Buttzville children find the major's groves a nice picnic

784 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ground. He gives them a merry time. The trees form regular
arches under which they gather for their picnics.
Buttzville station boasts of three elevators, Great Western
(Acne), Anders & Gage, a good shipping point, two general
stores, post office (C. 0. Peterson, postmaster), blacksmith shop,
lumber yard and machinery dealer, hotel, and school house,
which also serves as a meeting place for religious services, Yeo
man Hall, also used by the Woodmen Lodge.
Major Charles Wilson Buttz, of Buttzville, was born at
Stroudsburg, Penn., November 16, 1839, when two years old his
parents moved to Buttzville, N. J.; received an academic educa
tion, studied law with J. G. Shipman, Esq., at Belvidere ; entered
the Union army in 1861, as second lieutenant in the 11th Penn
sylvania Cavalry, was promoted to first lieutenant, 1862, received
two brevet ranks from the president, one as ' ' captain, for gallant
and meritorious service in capturing from the enemy a full rocket
battery," and the other as "Major, for gallant and meritorious
service in front of Suffolk, Va.," both dating May, 1865; was
wounded in 1863, remaining in the hospital some time; resigned
position in the army through surgeon general's office, on account
of impaired health, in October, 1863; commenced the practice
of law at Norfolk, Va. ; was delegate from Virginia to the Na
tional Convention, at Baltimore, in 1864; was appointed by Gov
ernor Pierrepont, in 1864, director of the Exchange Bank of
Virginia; was elected, 1867, president of the Great Republic
Gold & Silver Mining Company, and spent one year in Europe
engaged in negotiating that company's bonds; was nominated
on the Independent Republican ticket (upon which the Hon.
G. C. Walker was elected governor) for congressman at large
from Virginia, in 1869, but withdrew ten days before election;
removed to Charleston, S. C, in 1870; was elected solicitor (state's
attorney) of the First judicial circuit, composed of Charleston
and Orangeburg counties, in October, 1872, for four years;
was the Republican candidate at the election held for members
of the Forty-fourth congress, at which election the 'certificate was
given to E. W. M. Mackey; contested his seat before congress,
and on the 19th of July, 1876, congress turned him out and de
clared a vacancy; was re-elected solicitor for four years at the

MAJ. C. W. BUTTZ

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 785
election held November 7, 1876 ; and was also elected to fill the
vacancy in the Forty-fourth congress, as a Republican, receiving
21,385 votes, against 13,028 votes for M. P. O'Connor, Democrat.
New Jersey and the Rebellion.
Excerpt from Official History Authorized by Act of Legislature,
Written by John Y. Foster, State Historian.
The number of Jersey men identified with Pennsylvania regi
ments was quite large. Among the companies of which we have
accounts was one raised in Belvidere by Charles Wilson Buttz,
which our quota being full, proceeded to Philadelphia and was
there (September 3, 1861,) mustered in as Company I, of Har
lan's independent cavalry, afterwards designated as the 11th
Pennsylvania cavalry. Mr. Buttz accepting the position of sec
ond lieutenant. After various movements the regiment pro
ceeded to Fortress Monroe, remaining in that vicinity until May,
1862, when it was divided, five companies being sent to Norfolk,
and the other seven following McClellan up and down the Pen
insula. Company I, known as the "Jersey Company," being
with the latter; subsequently being stationed at Williamsburg,
these companies performed picket duty; the regiment some time
later being re-united at Suffolk, under Colonel Spear. In 1863,
during the Maryland invasion, General Dix, then commanding
at Fortress Munroe, sent the regiment by way of Hanover Court
House to destroy the railroad leading from Gordonsville and
Fredericksburg to Richmond, which service it performed, captur
ing a large wagon train and some 2,000 horses and mules, with
other property. At the South Anna river, Company I, with
others, was dismounted and had a sharp engagement with the
enemy, having three men killed and eight wounded. Returning
to Suffolk, the regiment was dispatched on a scouting expedition
along the Blackwater river. During this expedition, Lieutenant
Buttz with twenty-five of his men, engaged 300 of the enemy,
and by a daring charge succeeded in taking sixty-seven of the
number prisoners, and capturing a "rocket battery," with a good
supply of ammunition. The enemy just handsomely routed by
the Jersey men, consisted of members of the 2nd Georgia cavalry

786 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
and one company of infantry. Thirty-two of the prisoners had
severe wounds in the head, inflicted by the sabers of the assail
ants, whose loss was only one killed and three wounded. While
on this department Lieutenant Buttz was on several occasions
detailed for service on court martials as judge advocate, and
for a period of two months was provost marshal at Suffolk when
Longstreet besieged that place. Lieutenant Buttz acted as aid-
de-camp to Major General Peck, and on one occasion, being de
tailed with part of his company for special service, captured
forty-eight of the enemy ; the exploit receiving favorable mention
in General Peek's report to the war department.
During the remainder of the war the Jersey company served
with distingued credit, of the whole number, three being killed
and five wounded and two taken prisoners and never afterwards
heard of.
Lieutenant Buttz, upon quitting the service, commenced the
practice of the law, at Norfolk, Va. In July, 1880, at Charleston,
S. C, Major Buttz suffered from a stroke of paralysis, his whole
right side was affected. Because of the paralytic stroke, acting
upon the advice of his physician, Dr. Bellinger, recommending a
change of climate, whereupon he left the Atlantic coast, and lo
cated, in July, 1880, in Fargo, N. D., then a small village; there
he continued his chosen profession — law. In practice at that
place and Lisbon for several years. In the winter of 1881-2
he secured the organization of Ransom county, in that state, with
the county seat located at Lisbon. Soon thereafter he removed
to Lisbon and continued the practice of law until 1887. Since
then he has been extensively engaged in farming north of Buttz
ville. There he has hired help looking after his large interests
which he supervises himself. At the first election in. Ransom
county he was elected state's attorney for two years and served
as such. At the November election in 1902 he was elected to the
Eighth legislative assembly for the state of North Dakota, and
was re-elected in 1904-1906 to the Ninth and Tenth legislative
assembly, serving as chairman of the Judiciary Committee from
his first term.
The major now owns 1,500 acres — all in crops — has splendid
groves which are used for protection in winter from severe

HISTORY OF RANSOM COUNTY 787
winds, and serve as shade in summer. He spends his summers on
the farm, and winters in Washington, except six years, up to 1907,
while he was in legislature in Bismarck. The major's farm is well
stocked and fenced, the Avater reaches every avenue where stock
requires it, from an artesian well of about 800 feet deep, piped
through the farm, supplies water in the house, also an artificial
fish pond, wherein the government placed 100 black bass, in 1908 ;
since then he has added sixty-seven full-grown rock bass, caught
in Sheyenne river. This mammoth farm averages twenty-five
bushels to the acre in wheat; barley, thirty bushels; oats, forty
bushels ; a splendid field of timothy, Avhich will yield hay to
the amount of 400 tons, in 1909. The barn will hold about 30Q
head of cattle and horses. There are about forty-six head of
horses and colts on the place, all raised on the farm.
Other Villages.
There are several villages and railroad stations in Ransom
county. On the Soo line are Anselem, Venlo and McLeod. All are
good grain markets and have large elevators. Anselem and Mc
Leod are thrifty villages, with general stores, hotels, lumber
yards, etc. On the Fargo & Southwestern Railroad are Coburn,
Buttzville, Elliott and Englevale. Englevale was plotted in
1883 by M. L. Engle, Marshall T. Davis and George Robinson.
The town is growing rapidly ; has general stores, two hotels, and
a state bank.
Elliott is only seven miles from Lisbon. The village is pros
perous, has two stores, one large lumber yard, four elevators, a
state bank, hotel, and several residences ; it was plotted, in 1885,
by Thomas M. Elliott, a pioneer farmer, and is in the shape of a
wagon wheel with the center hub for a park, the streets repre
senting the spokes.

CHAPTER XXXVI.
MINNESOTA.
From the Moorhead Independent.
With soil, climate and conditions unsurpassed for the success
ful pursuit of every industry, such is the story of Minnesota
year after year. For this is a land of promise and opportunity,
where the sun of prosperity shines ; where happiness and content
ment are seen on every hand, and the spirit of progress is evident
everywhere. In the western portion of Minnesota, hundreds of new homes,
churches and schools are being built, while in the thriving viUages,
handsome business blocks are being erected, which set the land
mark of permanent and substantial business institutions. But
this is not the only evidence of Minnesota's progress; this vast
area which is still in its infancy, so far as development is con
cerned, thousands of acres of state and government lands are
being taken, and the sturdy frontiersman is blazing the way to
civilization, and transforming the mighty forests and boundless
prairies into fertile fields and cozy homes.
For beautiful scenery, nature has been most lavish with its
handiwork, and pictured magnificent and inspiring scenes ; from
the broad acres of waving grain and nodding corn, dotted here
and there with shady groves and pretty homes, on the south, to
the majestic forests on the south, where the giant pines keep
silent vigil over numberless lakes, whose clear, cold waters flash
out their brightness like priceless jewels in a rustic setting.
Minnesota, an Indian name, meaning "land of sky-tinted
water," is a beautiful and appropriate name inspired by nature
alone. When the territory of Minnesota was organized several
788

MINNESOTA 789
names were suggested in congress, among them being Itasca,
Chippewa, Jackson and Washington, but the original name, Min
nesota, was at last selected.
Geographically, Minnesota occupies the exact center of the
continent, lying midway between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean,
and also midway between the Hudson Bay and the Gulf of
Mexico. In area, Minnesota ranks tenth in the union, contain
ing 84,287 square miles, or about 53,943,379 acres, of which
3,608,012 acres are pure water. The southwesterly half of the
state is a gently rolling prairie, interspersed by frequent groves
of hardwood timber, and watered by many lakes, and streams of
crystal clearness, while to the north and northeast we find, it is
much rougher, covered with a dense growth of timber, and to
the extreme northeast lie the famous iron ranges, sloping down
to the Zenith City ; and the shores of Lake Superior.
The territory of Minnesota was organized and proclaimed on
June 1, 1849, and Alexander Ramsey was appointed territorial
governor by President Zachary Taylor. On May 11, 1858, Minne
sota was admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state. Almost
to a day, since Minnesota was organized, prosperity has shone
upon her, capital and enterprise have been steadily coming into
the state; and good round majority of immigrants have been
settling within her boundary lines, and her population has in
creased by leaps and bounds. Census statistics, prove her hand
some growth, for in 1850, Minnesota contained only 60,077 popu
lation; in 1860, 172,023; in 1870, 439,706; in 1880, 780,773; in
1890, 1,301,826, and in 1900, 1,751,394.
In 1861, when President Lincoln called for volunteers to put
down the rebellion, Minnesota, although then scarcely more than
a frontier state with a few scattering settlements, was among
the first to respond. On April 16, 1861, a call was made for
Minnesota to furnish ten companies, and just thirteen days later
the ten companies reported at Fort Snelling and were mustered
into the service April 30th. On June 22nd, these ten companies,
comprising the First Minnesota, were ordered to the front.
Minnesota furnished the Civil War 22,016 men and their gallant
service there made some of the brightest pages in the history of
that memorable conflict.

790 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
During the four years of the Civil War, Minnesota, like all
her sister states, suffered by business depression, and its growth
was retarded even more than the others, for in August, 1862,
while all our strong men were away on the southern battlefields,
Minnesota experienced an outbreak from the Sioux Indians, and
the horrors of that massacre are still fresh in the memory of
many of the old settlers. So swift were their movements that,
before any effective resistance could be made, about 800 settlers
were murdered, but the exact number is not known. Prompt
action on the part of the authorities quelled the outbreak, and
resulted in the capture of about 2,000 Sioux Indians, of whom
38 were hung at Mankato, December 26, 1862.
With the close of the Civil War and return of the soldiers, a
new era of prosperity prevailed, and rapid growth was begun.
Many miles of new railroad were built; manufacturing plants
were established ; cities and villages were platted, and thousands
of hardy farmers flocked hither to till the fertile soil. The whole
state has been rocked in the cradle of prosperity, and has walked
hand in hand with it ever since, never springing up with the
usual disastrous boom, but striding steadily forward, always
keeping pace with progress, and always abreast with her sister
states until today we stapd among the foremost in the union.
Her thousands of broad acres of rich prairie land, her mighty
forests of pine and hardwood, her vast deposits of iron ore, her
numerous quarries of granite, limestone and sandstone, her bed
of clay for pottery, building and facing brick, are among the
many natural resources of this great state, that has stamped
her name, "Minnesota," deep into the commerce of the nation
and the world.
The great divide, or watershed, in the northern part of the
state, which sends the rivers both north and south, in steep
and rapid descent, has placed in the hands of man immense
waterfalls, the ultimate development of which has not yet been
contemplated. It may further be noticed that about fifty per cent of the
tillable lands in this state is still in the wild, and if the home-
seeker of today would carefully survey the great possibilities of
Minnesota, he would find it to his advantage to build a home

MINNESOTA 791
tributary to the great markets, within the boundary line of
Minnesota, where a ready sale for all kinds of farm products
can always be found.
Minnesota is truly great in her natural endowment, and there
is nothing that cannot be utilized commercially.
Agricultural Resources.
While Minnesota stands unparalleled as a state of natural
resources, her agricultural resources are still greater, for the
rich and productive character of her soil is unsurpassed, and this,
coupled with the best of climatic conditions, has won for Minne
sota world-wide fame as an agricultural district.
Almost uniformly throughout the state we find the soil a
heavy, black loam, which produces bountiful crops of anything
that can be grown in this zone. For many years wheat has been
the staple product, and still is to a large degree, but the farmers
here have, during the past few years, practiced more diversified
farming with remarkable success, and in the older settled regions
corn is rapidly becoming the principal product. Dairying has
become an important industry here, and large herds of the very
best blooded stock can be found on almost every farm, with
creameries and cheese factories in many villages. Statistics
from the recent report of the state dairy and food commissioner
present some interesting facts, relative to Minnesota's dairying,
and are as follows : During the year 1906 the 825 creameries
in Minnesota made over 78,455 pounds of butter and the seventy-
two cheese factories made over 31,732,000 pounds of cheese.
These few figures show that Minnesota is a dairy as well as a
wheat state, and the dairy business is increasing every year.
Minnesota has been justly named, "The Bread and Butter State,"
as it produces yearly a bushel of wheat and a pound of butter
for every man, woman and child in the United States. In the
production of wheat Minnesota ranks well to the front, and in
-the production of barley and flax, Minnesota is second; fourth
in oats, and fifth in rye.
Corn raising is rapidly becoming an important branch of
agriculture in Minnesota, and the yield in both quality and
quantity is a match for the old corn belt of the United States.

792 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Statistics show that as far back as the year 1899, Minnesota
raised almost 1,500,000 acres of corn, which yielded over 47,000,-
000 bushels, and at the St. Louis World's Fair a northern county
farmer walked off with one of the prizes for a superior quality
of corn. Fodder can be raised in abundance in all parts of the
state, and is a boost for the dairy branch.
While Minnesota farmers can successfully raise any kind of
farm products, in tame and wild grasses she stands head and
shoulders above all others in both quality and quantity of pro
duction. Grasses thrive in every part of the state. At the last
state fair one county exhibited some clover which measured six
feet and two inches in length, and some wild blue joint grass
which measured five feet and seven inches.
Minnesota is particularly adapted for sheep raising, but this
branch of industry has been neglected and gone to the prairies
of the west. However, farmers have begun to take more to this
industry the past few years with remarkable success, and it is to
be hoped that sheep raising will soon be an important and profita
ble business in this state, as sheep require undulating land, and
over seventy-five per cent of Minnesota is of this character. The
State Experimental Farm recently made an interesting experi
ment in raising sheep, which proved conclusively that Minnesota
is a sheep state. Ten head of sheep were successfully pastured
on one acre of land, and the same ten head were fed through the
winter from the product of one acre. The experimental farm
also sent a crate of five head of sheep to Chicago in 1901 and 1902
in a contest with the world, and in both cases Minnesota sheep
were awarded the first prize.
Swine and poultry raising is coming into prominence more
and more each year, and splendid returns are secured by the
farmers in this line. Fruit raising is also coming to the front
and Minnesota is now considered a fruit state. In 1903 Minne
sota produced $550,000 worth of apples, and the proceeds of
small fruits is conservatively estimated to have been about
$600,000. A better idea of Minnesota's fruit resources can be
obtained by attending the State Fair and noting the great dis
play of Minnesota fruits. To tell of all of Minnesota's agricul
tural advantages would require many pages, therefore we can

HENRY SCHROEDER

> MINNESOTA 793
only give a brief description here, but we can say that one acre
of Minnesota land will produce just as much as an acre of the
land in the highly developed portions of the United States, where
it sells from $100 to $200 per acre. The price of Minnesota farm
lands, although steadily advancing, is still low, compared to the
many other states, and to the man with a little money who wishes
to farm, no better place can be found on the globe than a farm
home in Minnesota. There still remains in Minnesota about 3,-
000,000 acres of state school lands which average in price about
$7.00 per acre. This land is sold on forty years' time at four
per cent interest. There are also about 3,500,000 acres of gov
ernment lands that can be taken as homesteads. It is not speak
ing too highly to say that Minnesota holds out better inducements
than any state in the union, to men in all walks of life. With
soil, forests and mines unequaled, and railroad and waterway
transportation facilities unparalleled, it offers to you a sturdy
and sound citizenship, and extends a hand of welcome to the
industrious, thrifty and progressive citizen.
Soil and Climate.
If there is any one thing that Minnesotans can boast of it is
the climate of this state. Not that it is of a balmy nature like
the sunny south, or the monotonous days of continual sunshine
of California, but because of its pure, bracing air, which is a
tonic to the tired body and a refreshing draught to the weak and
diseased lungs. The winters are rigorous, but the air is dry, so
that one does not feel the cold when the thermometer is 20 de
grees below zero as much as one would in the warmer states,
where the air is always damp, but the thermometer higher. The
summers are delightful, as well as the autumns, and those who
have not idled away a summer on the shores of our beautiful
Minnesota lakes, or sought the game at all time in the fields and
forests of Minnesota, have missed many of the charms of this old
world. The average sunshine per year in Minnesota is over 150
days, and the rainfall for many years has averaged thirty inches
for the state, while the snowfall has averaged forty-nine inches,
a trifle less than Michigan or Wisconsin. The average tempera
ture for the year is forty-two degrees; this, however, varies in

794 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
different parts of the state as the weather is somewhat cooler
during the summer months in the northern part, which Avill be
readily understood when one considers the fact that Minnesota
covers a territory of 400 miles north and south. The splendid
crops produced in Minnesota show how favorable the climate is
for plant growth, and the fact that hundreds of people flock to
the great pine woods of northern Minnesota, where they soon
win back their health, is evidence of Minnesota's healthful
climate. Minnesota has a large variety of soil, but all are of a highly
productive character, and scientific examinations show that the
soil in Minnesota contains more plant food than the average in
other states. At the World's Fair in Chicago, samples of Minne
sota soil, which were exhibited there, were awarded the prize for
containing more plant food than any other state in the contest.
School System of Minnesota.
Minnesota's public school system is the source of a great deal
of pride to every loyal citizen of the North Star State, and well
they may feel proud of our educational system, for it is one of
the most perfect and permanent in the world. The proceeds from
the sale of our state school lands and the lease of our iron mines
already amount to over $20,000,000, and will eventuaUy reach
$100,000,000. Only the interest from this great sum of money
can be used, so the state school fund, magnificent as it is, is
permanent and can never be reduced. The interest from the
permanent fund already amounts to almost a million dollars,
and is divided anually among the school districts, throughout
the state, and is commonly known as current school fund. Both
our graded and high schools are free, and over eighty per cent
of the districts have adopted the free text book system, making a
free education for every child who seeks it. Our state university,
located at Minneapolis, is the pride of the whole Northwest, and
its students number more than many universities in other parts
of the United States. The department of agriculture is a branch
of the state university, and their buildings, with over 250 acres
of land, are located at St. Anthony Park. Here they have an
experimental station, a college and school of agriculture, and

MINNESOTA 795
teach a special course in farming. The Minnesota agricultural
school is the greatest in the world, and besides its own great
school, maintains two sub-experimental stations in northern Min
nesota. We, here in Minnesota, do not and cannot appreciate
the splendid school system like those who come from the states
where less liberal educational advantages are necessarily given.
Go where you may in Minnesota, either north, south, east or west,
whether thickly or sparsely populated, regardless of race, color
or creed, you will find good substantial schools, competent teach
ers, and almost universally the free text book, while our hun
dreds of villages fairly vie with each other as to which can boast
of the best and largest school, and our many colleges and acade
mies are turning out professional men and women by the hun
dreds. In addition to the public schools of our state, which are
classed among the best in the world, every county is amply
supplied with good high school facilities, and many of them with
excellent colleges. Therefore, Minnesota schools come in for a
large share of the credit in furnishing inducements to home-
seekers. Minnesota as a Summer Resort.
With ten thousand lakes and as many rivers and streams,
with the boundless prairies on the west and its primeval forests
on the north, where can one go to find a better field for genuine
sports with gun or rod than Minnesota? The lakes both large
and small teem with bass and pike, while in the rushing brook
one may seek the "speckled beauties," not in vain, or make a
pretty catch at one of the lakes. On the prairie, chicken makes
sport for the hunter, while in the nearby forests one may bag a
dozen partridges. Along the rice beds of our many rivers, ducks
and geese are found in abundance, and no better shooting can
be had anywhere than in Minnesota.
Good hunting for small game is not confined to the wilder
portion alone, for prairie chickens, partridges, quail, ducks and
geese are plentiful during the fall in every county in the state.
So well are our fish protected that in almost every one of our
innumerable lakes we find fish in abundance, and the trout brooks,

796 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
as well as our lakes are kept well stocked with all kinds of fish
from large fish hatcheries. In addition to the two fish hatcheries,
which the state now maintains, the last legislature appropriated
$6,000 for the erection of a third hatchery.
Opportunities.
As you read these pages you may lay it aside and say "Minne
sota is a great state, but there is no opening there for me," but
there is an opening there for you, a golden opportunity, there
are opportunities in Minnesota for men in every walk of life.
For the capitalist there is an almost unlimited field for safe
and profitable investment. The rapidly growing cities and vil
lages in the central and southern parts of the state as weU as the
new towns that are springing up in the northern region need
more capital, they need bankers, merchants and promoters, and
no state in the Union holds out better inducements for invest
ment by the capitalist than all parts of Minnesota.
To the manufacturer, conditions for you could hardly be
better. With hundreds of thousands of horsepower in our rivers
lying idle, with fuel so cheap for steam propelling purposes, with
our unparalleled railroad and waterway transportation facilities,
and many other equally important factors to the manufacturer,
how could a state appeal to you more forcibly than does Minne
sota? There are innumerable opportunities here for manufactur
ing in almost any branch, in fact so many that we will not
attempt to enumerate them. However, we might remind you that
we have many natural resources in addition to numerous water-
powers which will assist the manufacturer. Hardwood timber
for furniture and woodenware, clay for brick, pottery and tiling,
stone for cement, raw iron for ironworks, pulpwood for paper
mills, quarries of granite, limestone and sandstone for stone
works, wonderful productions of wheat for flour, flax for oil and
fibre, potatoes for starch, sugar beets for sugar, in fact we have
more resources to attract the prudent man who is looking for a
location for manufacturing plant than any state in the Union.
To the professional man : Why do you the moment you get
your "sheepskin" turn your face AvestAvard as soon as the college
door is closed behind you? Stop in Minnesota where a permanent

MINNESOTA 797
and profitable field awaits you. The steady growth of Minnesota
in its developed portions demands more doctors, lawyers and
other professional men, while in the northern part of the state
new toAvns are being built, new counties formed and new terri
tories populated and developed which affords active fields for
professional men.
To the farmer: It seems that enough has already been said
to convince you that Minnesota is the place for you.
State Fair.
The Minnesota State Fair is the greatest in the United States,
and each year is growing larger. Exhibitors from every part of
the United States attend the Minnesota State Fair to show their
wares and hundreds of head of fancy stock are sold here every
years. The fair grounds cover over two hundred acres of ground,
and many of the fair buildings are worth in the neighborhood of
$150,000. The state now enjoys a two-cent passenger fare on all lines
within her borders, together with a general reduction of freight
rates which went into effect last year. In this connection it may
be mentioned that the different transportation companies doing
business in Minnesota, exert every effort to accommodate the
shippers and traveling public, and thus lend their portion to
the upbuilding and development of our fair state.

CHAPTER XXXVII.
CLAY COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
By
Hon. James H. Sharp.
The first Northern Pacific crossing of the Red River of the
North was located at Oakport, four miles north of Moorhead in
September, 1871, the engineers having run a line from Muskoda
to the river, striking the river at Probstfield's farm, afterward
known as Oakport. In the meantime, Andrew Holes who, with
his wife, was making a tour of the country in a prairie schooner,
had been employed as agent for the Lake Superior and Puget
Sound Land Company, and under their direction was negotiating
for the purchase of the present site of Moorhead. A strip of land
on the east side of the Red River, surveyed by the government
some years before, had been sold at $1.25 per acre and the quarter
section where Moorhead now stands was owned by one Joab
Smith. This was selected as being the highest point of land and
most likely to escape high water should that danger arise, as it
did in the years 1826, 1852 and 1861. This purchase being made
and the deed secured by Mr. Holes, the Moorhead location was
determined upon much to the chagrin of the inhabitants of the
"new city." However, as there were only tent buildings con
sisting of supply stores, Chapin's two-story tent hotel and other
places usually found in frontier towns, they were not long in
pulling up stakes and moving down to Moorhead and Fargo;
some locating on claims and others establishing business firms in
Moorhead. During the summer of 1870, N. K. Hubbard received a dis
patch from Pitt Cook, brother of Jay Cook, to locate the Northern
798

CLAY COUNTY 799
Pacific crossing of the Red River at Elm river about eight miles
east of Grandin. Frank Veits was the associate of Mr. Hubbard
in that they had come together from Geneva, Ohio, and were
looking for opportunities in the Red River valley. Veits had
purchased the Hudson Bay Plotel from Adam Stein at Georgetown
and at the same time Jacob Lowell, Jr., George G. Sanborn and
H. S. Back and others, had located at Elm River, keeping them
selves, however, posted as to the movements of the Northern
Pacific company. These men were joined by A. McHench and
others, who spent that winter at Elm River.
R. M. Probstfield, Adam Stein and E. R. Huchinson were the
earliest settlers in this part of the country. Huchinson settled
in Georgtown in 1859 and his family still resides there. Adam
Stein settled in Georgtown about the same time and with his
family still lives there. Mr. Probstfield still lives on his farm
at Oakport, where he settled in 1859.
In June, 1871, Bruns & Finkle, John Haggart & W. J. Bodkin,
J. B. Chapin, Shang, P. L. Knappen, Richards, and some others
had established themselves to stay at the point now called Oak
port. Mr. S. G. Comstock was then working on the grade at
Muskoda and N. K. Hubbard and J. H. Sharp were selling goods
in tents at Oaklake, now Lake Park. Mr. Holes came into the
country in 1869, being engaged in the service of the Public Sur
vey, and later employed by Jay Cook and Honorable William
Windom to select land for them in the Red River valley. In
anticipation of the crossing, he purchased fractions of land at
different points on the river and in May, 1871, camped at Oak
port. Joab Smith, from whom the Moorhead site was purchased,
resided at this point for several years and kept the stage station
for a time in the 'sixties.
At a meeting of the directors of the Puget Sound Land Com
pany on September 22, 1871, Fargo and Moorhead received their
names, Fargo in honor of G. E. Fargo of the Wells-Pargo Express
Company, and Moorhead in honor of William G. Moorhead, a
director of the Northern Pacific under the Jay Cook manage
ment. In 1871 J. B. Chapin came from Brainerd to Oakport, and
set up a two-story tent for hotel purposes. As this was about
the time when Oakport was abandoned, he moved to Moorhead

800 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
September 27, 1871, and the tent hotel was afterward sided and
at a later date was called the Central Hotel of Moorhead, under
the management of Michael Syron.
There was also the Northern Pacific Supply Company store
under tent cover, Bruns & Finkle 's tent, and Hubbard, Raymond
& Allen, general store, covered by tent. All lumber used was
carted from Breckenridge or Fort Abercrombie, forty miles south.
Oakport was the nearest point available for meals and the dozen
people getting ready for business were obliged to drive four
miles for meals. However, this was made less tiresome by Major
Wood, who kept the stage station and possessed a fine pair of
four-minute steppers. This team, by the way, was afterward sold
to General Custer, who was very fond of fast horses.
Up to this time all supplies used in the Hudson Bay stores at
Georgetown and Progpoint were carted from St. Cloud by what
were known as Indian carts. These were made entirely of wood
and consisted of two large wheels without tires, with the shafts
passing into the heavy axle. On this a box was fastened and
to the cart was attached a horse, mule, ox, cow, or anything that
could be induced to draw a load. These carts were in charge of
halfbreeds and the trains sometimes numbered as many as forty
carts. As wagon grease was never used, the approaching squeak
could be heard for a great distance.
Another means of transportation was by means of dog trains
which were used as late as 1873. These were used by the Hudson
Bay Company and their agent, J. Walter S. Trail, made many
a trip between Moorhead and Georgetown, where he was located.
The dog sledge was somewhat similar to the toboggan. It was
wide enough for one seat so arranged that the occupant might
recline, and behind this seat was room for baggage. Six dogs
usually hauled one sledge, making a record of from seventy-five
to ninety miles a day and pulling a load of about five hundred
pounds. These dogs often became very much attached to their
driver and passenger friends who were kind to them. This form
of traveling was most customary during the winter and often the
trains consisted of several sledges. The Lake Superior and Puget
Sound Land Company oAvned the townsite of Moorhead while the
Northern Pacific Company owned Fargo, and the rivalry worked

CLAY COUNTY 801
a hardship to Moorhead in railroad matters. At one time a ticket
could not be bought to Moorhead, as the place did not appear on
the map.
John Ross Avas the contractor who built the Northern Pacific
to the Red River, the first engine reaching the river December
12, 1871. Washington Snyder was the engineer and Alexander
Gamble fireman. The snow plow attached to the engine was in
charge of Captain R. H. Emerson.
The first mail was carried to Moorhead in 1871 by James II.
Sharp. The mail had to be brought from Georgetown, as that
was the nearest postoffice at the time.
Clay County Organization.
The organization of Clay County was effected April 14, 1872.
AndreAV Holes and Peter Wilson were appointed for the purpose
of organization and were qualified before H. G. Finkle, Notary.
The following were made the first officers of the county: S. G.
Comstock, County Attorney; James Douglas, Judge of Probate;
Horace DeCamp, Register of Deeds ; Peter Wilson, Auditor ; John
Shorsgaard, Treasurer; G. A. Hendricks, Clerk of Court; J. B.
Blanchard, Sheriff; and H. A. Bruns, Coroner. Moorhead was
named as the county seat and on June 1, 1872, a county building
Avas ordered. This first building was a two-story 20x30 frame
structure, located where the Biedler Robertson Lumber Company
now have their offices. Court was held upstairs and the first
story accommodated the county officers, the county attorney mak
ing his residence at his office. Later the building was sold to Dr.
Davis for a dwelling house and the brick building now standing
near the Andrew Holes residence was built and used for county
purposes. In 1883 the present court house Avas built and has since
undergone many repairs and improvements, such as the putting
in of electric lights, a steam-heating plant and hardwood floors.
The present county officers are : G. D. McCubrey, Clerk of
Court ; Fred Stalley, Register of Deeds ; Andrew Houghem, Audi
tor; N. D. Johnson, County Attorney; James H. Sharp, Judge
of Probate; C. Paulson, Treasurer; S. 0. Tang, County Superin
tendent of Schools ; and Archie Whaley, Sheriff. Hans P. Strate,

802 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
one of the most faithful and best known county officers, served as
treasurer for twenty-two years. Events.
The summer of 1872 was a lively period in the history of
Moorhead, as a number of noted characters had arrived here
from the Union Pacific. Among these were "Shang," Jack
0 'Neil, Dave Mullen, Shomway, Edward Smith and Sallie 0 'Neil.
These people were industrious in their pursuits and many queer
things were done. Gambling and shooting were prominent pas
times for the people. A shooting match before and after break
fast was not an unusual occurrence. The public were one day
both eye and ear witnesses to a shooting "duet" by Dave MuUen
and EdAvard Smith. Neither of the contestants was seriously
injured. Jack 0 'Neil had been several times shot in the head, but had
escaped with his life. Sally, his "better half," one day after a
drunken row threatened to skin him with a butcher knife, chas
ing him round and round the tent ; but from this attack he also
escaped and went to Bismarck, where Fatty Hall ended his thrill
ing career by shooting him "amidship."
Living as they do now in comfort, the old settlers are prone
to forget the hardships and privations through which they passed
in those early days, unless by some word or incident they are
brought to mind.
When the supplies came for the first stores, the storeroom was
not yet prepared, so the stock was unloaded, covered with tents
and the proprietors were obliged to live and deal out goods under
the same roof.
The eating tent which was set up possessed a table consist
ing of two 12-inch boards placed on saw horses, and covered
with a red table cloth which, under necessity, did longer service
than would now be considered sanitary.
After the Sioux massacre in 1862 the settlers were on the alert
for danger signals. They were practically unarmed and defense
less, so when rumors were heard that Indians were indulging in
a war dance about six miles southwest of Moorhead on the Chey
enne, a mass meeting was called and seated on logs in the vicin-

CLAY COUNTY 803
ity of the elevator, they decided to prepare for an attack by
forming a company and procuring some firearms from St. Paul.
The representative sent to secure the weapons was compelled to
give a bond of $1,500 for safe return of same. We may say here
that no attack was made, the Indians probably thinking better of
their plan, after making sure the settlers were in earnest. When
the company broke up a greater part of the weapons were miss
ing and the man who had given bond was much disturbed over
the matter. His feelings were however much relieved when a
keen-minded friend suggested that he report the musketry "Lost
in action." When the Indians came in earnest in 1862, they crossed the
Red River just below where the Moorhead mill now stands and
there are reports of how the few people living in the vicinity were
hurried off to Fort Abercrombie.
Old settlers who are now living have vivid recollections of
the buffalo path strewn with bones where we now look upon the
campus of Concordia College. Buffalo teeth were picked up and
served as souvenirs of the tales of the famous buffalo hunts in
the early 'fifties and 'sixties. The Hudson Bay Company dealt
extensively in pemmican prepared from the buffalo meat. These
hunts must have been most exciting. The hunters are described
as rushing into a herd of buffalo with their mouths filled with
balls, loading and firing rapidly. The animals were killed by
hundreds and thousands in a day and the industry of preparing
and utilizing the different portions of buffalo was very great.
Steamboat Line.
The steamboat "International" was built at Georgtown in
1862 and made her first trip on the Red River to Fort Garry. R.
M. Probstfield and Andrew Holes were passengers on this trip
and on the return trip Mr. Probstfield brought with him twenty-
four sheep, which he had purchased at Fort Garry. These sheep
cost him $100 in gold, the freight was $40 and within eighteen
hours after their arrival at Georgetown all but one was killed
by the dogs belonging to the Hudson Bay Company. This ended
for some time the sheep business in the Red River valley.
The International, Selkirk, Cheyenne and Dakota ran from

804 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Moorhead to Fort Garry until in 1877 they were transferred to
Fisher's Landing.
This Une of steamers ran from Moorhead to Winnipeg and
carried a great deal of grain.
Among these was the "White Swan," which was cut in two
and shipped by rail from the Mississippi river, and when recon
structed was known as the "Pluck." The Selkirk was con
structed at McCauleyviUe in 1871 by Captain Alexander Griggs
and James J. Hill. The Cheyenne and Dakota were built at Grand
Forks, and the Alpha at McCauleyviUe. James Douglas built
the Minnesota and Manitoba in 1875 at Moorhead.
In 1878 a line of steamboats known as the "Alsop Line" had
headquarters established at Moorhead.
Bruns and Finkle built the first elevator in Moorhead in 1878
and grain Avas hauled for forty miles on either side of the river.
The Moorhead mill was established in 1874 and still stands,
though it has since been much enlarged and improved, and is
now one of the best equipped mills in the valley, under the man
agement of the Dwight M. Baldwin, Jr., Company.
Business Concerns.
Moorhead has been called the "Biggest little city of the great
Northwest," and though its population does not exceed 6,000,
it ranks high in energetic enterprise and prosperity. The busi
ness interests of this city are many and of a progressive type.
It owns its own electric light and water plant and miles of the
best sanitary sewer system of any city of its size. Being located
on the river, an abundant supply of water is granted and gas and
electricity are furnished at a low rate. Drinking water is sup
plied by the city artesian well and many families have their
private wells. An electric street car system runs to all parts of
Moorhead and Fargo, and serves as a connecting link to bind the
interests of the two cities.
The fertile land near which Moorhead is located and which
surrounds the city is instrumental to a great extent in making it
the large shipping point that it is for grains, hay, potatoes, dairy
products and live stock. Tavo important railroads, the Northern
Pacific and Great Northern pass through the place, connecting

CLAY COUNTY 805
it directly with the largest markets of the country and causing
it to rapidly become a railroad center. Dilworth, the new division
point of the Northern Pacific railway, is situated about three miles
east of the city. It contains a large roundhouse, machine and
car shops, a church and school house, and during the few years
of its existence has progressed rapidly.
The manufacturing industry of Moorhead is growing steadily.
At present it boasts of three cement and tile factories, one sash
and door factory, one planing mill, a foundry, a cigar factory,
two wagon factories, brick yards and lumber yards. Its flour
mill mentioned elsewhere has the capacity to send out 1,000
barrels per day.
Moorhead 's business men are to be complimented upon their
energetic and systematic methods. Beside the establishments
mentioned are several land firms, contracting and building firms,
three elevators, three up-to-date newspapers, livery and feed
barns, harness shops, saloons and four wholesale liquor houses,
four hotels, two large department stores, three drug stores,
grocery stores and meat markets, the Penn Oil and Supply Com
pany, and almost every institution that goes to make up a flour
ishing city.
First National Bank of Moorhead. Established in 1881 ; capi
tal and surplus, $90,000. Moorhead National Bank.
There is no class of legitimate banking business which cannot
be taken care of in Moorhead. The Moorhead National Bank
deals in foreign and domestic exchange, lands, mortgages and
other securities, and they can fittingly claim the high estimate
which has been conferred upon them.
As to their official and managerial composite little need be
said. Such names as P. H. Lamb, J. Wagner, S. A. Holmes, J.
Malloy, respectively president, vice president, cashier and assist
ant cashier of the Moorhead National Bank, are alone sufficient
to inspire unshaken confidence in the minds of the bank's clien
tele, and even if they were not — the influential list of the board
of directors would more than amplify. The Moorhead National
Bank, established in 1892, has a capital and surplus of $105,000.

806 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Nifty figures you will concede for one bank in a city the size of
Moorhead. Like all first class banks, the Moorhead National
contains an elaborate system of safety deposit boxes, and in addi
tion to its general business it offers a savings department for the
benefit of its long list of small deposits, opening, as it does, an
account upon the deposit of $1.
First State Bank of Moorhead. Established in 1903, capital
and surplus $33,000, carry on in a reliable and approved manner
the banking business of the city and to a large extent of the
surrounding country.
Of physicians and lawyers there are many and the professional
interests of the people are conducted on a high plane.
The Darrow Hospital is a well organized institution contain
ing the modern facilities for the welfare and comfort of its
patients. Of vast importance to the educational concerns of the com
munity is the Carnegie Public Library which was erected during
the year 1907. Each year increases its store and circulation of
usefulreading material, and its benefit is greatly felt.
To one who has an eye for the beautiful, the city of Moorhead
at this date proves an attraction. It is well laid out, not only
the business portion, but also the residence districts of the city
are constantly being improved and beautified. The number of
beautiful homes is being constantly enlarged and these sur
rounded by spacious and well-kept lawns cannot but help make
an attractive and interesting spot.
One of the greatest charms of the city is in the trees which
line its walks and driveways. These trees were set out in the
early days and by careful cultivation have become an adornment
which anyone coming into the town during the summer months
will not fail to notice and appreciate.
Creosote blocks are to compose the new paving that is to be
put in in the business districts and Avithin a short time the wooden
walk will be a thing of the past, it having given way entirely
to the cement walk.
One of Moorhead 's strongest and most energetic organizations
is its Commercial Club, composed of citizens who have at heart
the best interests of the city. The club was organized in 1905

CLAY COUNTY 807
and has ever been untiring in its efforts to help bring about what
seems best for the upbuilding and advancement of the community.
Fire Department.
On November 15, 1872, about thirty-five citizens, including
the Avell known names of S. G. Comstock, H. A. Bruns, J. H. Sharp,
H. G. Finkle and H. DeCamp, constituted themselves into a fire
company and pledged themselves to obey the foreman. At the
same time a subscription paper was circulated to furnish equip
ments for the company. About $100 was subscribed and $85 paid
in as shoAATi by the original paper now in the possession of J. H.
Sharp. Thus did our efficient fire department have its origin.
October 16, 1882, the Hook and Ladder Company was organ
ized and confirmed by the council. About the same time the Hose
Company came into existence.
On December 19, 1882, the Moorhead Fire Department Avas
fully organized and received the approval of the council. Peter
Czizik Avas the first chief, serving two years. Jacob Kiefer was
next elected to that position and served five years. A. J. Wright
the third chief, served several years.
The Moorhead News, daily and weekly, is one of the pioneer
neAA7spapers of the Red River valley. The "Weekly News" was
established in 1878, and for over thirty years has been issued
regularly on Thursday of each week. The company which
founded the publication conducted the business until 1883, when
the plant was taken over by George N. Lamphere, who continued
the publication of the paper until April 1, 1900, when the prop
erty was purchased by Robert W. Richards and William D. Titus,
who, as Richards & Titus, have conducted the business since.
The "Daily News" was established in 1882, and is one of the
oldest country dailies in Minnesota. The "News" has one of
the most complete and up-to-date newspaper plants in northern
Minnesota, being equipped with a standard Linotype, presses,
folding machine and paper cutters; is operated throughout by
electric power and has a large equipment of type, stones and
other material for the conduct of its business, which consists of
book and job printing in addition to the publication of the daily
and weekly editions of the paper. In politics the "News" is

808 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Republican, and it enjoys a large circulation throughout Clay
and adjoining counties.
The Moorhead Independent, started in 1900, is a bright, live
weekly paper, and stands for the best things.
The Moorhead Citizen has been published about five years,
has a good circulation and is making good in the newspaper line.
Schools.
The first school in Moorhead opened in 1872 by private sub
scription. This lasted for two months, and Nina Hall was the
teacher. In September, 1872, there was commenced a five months '
school in the Presbyterian chapel, with Mary Farmer teacher.
Board of Directors were James Douglas, Andrew Holes, and
James H. Sharp, secretary. Bonds were voted and issued bearing
tAvelve per cent interest, and sold for $.82!/2 to F. James, of Min
nesota, interest guaranteed by the secretary. A building was
erected and later was sold to the Swedish Lutheran church.
School District No. 2 included Holy Cross, Georgetown, Oakport,
Kurtz, and Moorhead. The first Board of Education in the Inde
pendent District consisted of James Douglas, Lyman Loring, Ole
Thompson, F. J. Burnham, John Thorsgaard, Dr. John Kurtz,
and James H. Sharp. Five schoolhouses were erected by this
board. During the year 1880 a new building was erected and named
the "Sharp School" as a testimonial of the appreciation of the
services of James H. Sharp as a member of the school board.
The site consists of a block of land and was purchased from A. E.
Henderson for the sum of $500. In 1892 an addition was made
to this building and it has since been altered and much improved.
This building includes the High School department beside the
eight grades. There are also three other grade school buildings
known as the First, Second and Third Ward buildings; also the
Catholic parochial school.
Of her schools, Moorhead may well be proud. Each branch
of learning is conducted on the most approved plan and the
buildings are well supplied with the necessary furnishings. In
the High School the chemical and physical laboratories are espe
cially well equipped, the apparatus used being the most modern.

CLAY COUNTY 809
Twenty-five teachers are employed in the schools, including
special directors in music, drawing, elocution, sewing and manual
training. The manual training department is established in a
separate building directly east of the Sharp school building.
Moorhead Normal School.
The rapid development of the Red River valley during the
early eighties made it apparent to those interested in the educa
tional affairs of the state that the three existing normal schools
were totally inadequate to supply teachers to the newly opened
up Northwest. This belief gradually crystallized into the con
viction that a normal school should be located at some point in
the Red River valley.
As a result, the legislature in 1885 located such a school
at Moorhead, on condition that a site be donated by the citizens.
The Hon. S. G. Comstock deeded to the state for the purpose a
tract of six acres admirably located in the southeastern part of
the city.
At the next session of the legislature in 1887 an appropriation
of $60,000 was made for the erection of a building, and $5,000
provided for running expenses.
Construction work was soon commenced under the general
supervision of the resident director, Hon. Thomas C. Kurtz. In
the early autumn of 1888 the building was completed. It was
an excellent building, large and commodious, and at the time
one of the finest in the Northwest. Many persons believed the
building to be large enough to meet the requirements of such a
school for many years in the future.
Livingston C. Lord became the president of the new normal
school. The selection proA7ed to be a happy one, for in President
Lord the board of directors secured a man of scholastic attain
ment and rich in experience, and one who possessed withal a
magnetic personality fitting him eminently as the organizer and
head of a training school for teachers.
On the 29th of August, 1888, with a faculty of five members,
including the president, the State Normal School at Moorhead
was formally opened for the reception of students. During the
year, ninety-seven students were enrolled, one-third of them

810 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
coming from Moorhead. The following year, with the same
attendance from Moorhead, there was a total enrollment of 135.
Then followed years of steady growth, the attendance fluctu
ating from year to year as affected by the prosperity of the
farming regions contributory to it.
In 1892 the Hon. George N. Lamphere became resident di
rector. Meanwhile the proper caring for the student body de
manded dormitory facilities, and in 1893 a dormitory was erected.
This building comfortably accommodated sixty young ladies to
room and board, and furnished board to a number of students
rooming near.
A change in the directorate made the Hon. S. G. Comstock
resident director in 1894. At this time the model school, which
hitherto had been a part of the city schools, under the joint
supervision of the city superintendent and the normal school,
was changed. It has been since this time a distinct department
of the normal schools, under the sole direction of the normal
school authorities.
A marked increase in attendance was noticed in 1895. In the
year of 1898 Hon. C. A. Nye succeeded Mr. Comstock as resident
director. The most significant event since the organization of the school
occurred in 1899, when President L. C. Lord resigned to accept
a similar position in Charleston, 111. The selection of his suc
cessor confronted the normal board as a serious problem. The
board, however, manifested its wisdom by selecting as president
Frank A. Weld. His intimate knowledge of the school affairs of
Minnesota, gained by many years of successful experience, his
keen insight into the needs of the teacher, and his broad and
sympathetic scholarship, made him the Avorthy successor of Presi
dent Lord. In 1902 Mr. Comstock became resident director a
second time. During the first ten years of the school's existence
there had been a great influx of settlers into the valley and the
school felt the influence of this tide of immigration. By the
year 1903 the enrollment had increased to such an extent that
more room became a necessity, A large addition was therefore
erected in 1904. This gave to the school a much needed audi-

CLAY COUNTY 811
torium and library facilities commensurate with the needs of the
student body.
Another change was made in the resident directorship in 1906,
when Mr. Nye was again given the position. The rooms origi
nally designed for model school purposes having long since ceased
to afford sufficient room for the enlarged school, a model school
building was added in 1908. This building is thoroughly modern
and is excellently equipped. It increases very greatly the effi
ciency of the normal school. During the year 1909 a large
dormitory is to be erected, which will more than double the
capacity of the school in furnishing homes for the young ladies
in attendance. The normal school has now been in existence for twenty-one
years and results have amply justified its location at Moorhead.
For a number of years summer schools have been held which
gives continuous sessions to the normal. This has been particu
larly advantageous to rural school teachers.
The original faculty of five has increased to twenty-three,
while the total attendance, exclusive of the model school, was
for the year 1907-08, 721. It is the aim of the school to supply
well equipped and trained teachers for the schools of the state.
With this in view the administration is keenly alive to the needs
of the educational system and is earnestly progressive in attempt
ing to supply these needs.
To those who are familiar with the possibilities of the Red
River valley, the Moorhead Normal School is but in its infancy.
Concordia College.
By
Prof. R. Bogstad.
In the southern suburbs of the beautiful city of Moorhead,
on a little eminence overlooking the city, Concordia College is
located. The school is removed from the business portion of
the city and thus avoids the confusion and other distractions
necessarily incident to the location of an institution of learning
in an active city.

812 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
How the Idea Originated.
For years past there has existed among the Norwegian Lu
therans in the Red River valley a ministerial association known,
in former years, as the Grand Forks Prestekonference, and now
by the name of the Red River Dalens Prestekonference.
In a meeting of this body, held in Rev. J. M. 0. Ness's par
sonage, in Perley, Minn., the subject of establishing a higher
institution of learning for the Lutheran young people in the
valley came up for discussion. This discussion was continued at
a later meeting of the conference in Grand Forks.
A call for bonuses from the leading cities in the valley was
extended, and Fargo, Grand Forks, Crookston and Hillsboro
became competitors.
At a meeting held in Crookston in January, 1891, it was
decided to locate the institution at that place ; later on the loca
tion was changed to Grank Porks and this materialized in the
establishment of the Grand Forks College, which was then under
the auspices of the United Church. Later on it was sold and
is now under the auspices of the Norwegian Synod.
During this discussion for the location of the Lutheran insti
tution, Moorhead came also into competition. It had a good
college building to offer, known as the Bishop Whipple School.
The building was located in the southern part of the city of
Moorhead. This building, together with six acres of land, was
bought by the Northwestern Lutheran College Association, which
was organized April 14, 1891, and incorporated July 8, the same
year. The first officers of the Association were : Rev. J. M. 0.
Ness, president; Rev. G. H. Gerberding, vice-president; Mr. L.
Christianson, secretary; Mr. H. Rasmussen, treasurer.
The first Board of Directors : Rev. J. 0. Hougen, Rev. G. H.
Gerberding, Rev. J. J. Heie, Mr. A. J. Wright, Mr. Ole Nilson.
The first Board of Trustees: Hon. John Bye, Hickson, N.
Dak.; Hon. Andrew Slotten, Dwight, N. Dak.; Mr. N. Dalen,
Georgetown, Minn. ; Mr. Erik Lee, Kindred, N. Dak. ; Mr. M.
Mortenson, Harwood, N. Dak. ; Mr. A. G. Kassenborg, Kragness,
Minn.; Mr. K. Olson, Fargo, N. Dak.; Mr. 0. Martinson, Moor-

CONCORDIA COLLEGE, MOORHEAD

CLAY COUNTY 813
head, Minn.; Mr. T. H. Brokke, Georgetown, Minn.; Mr. Tollef
Pederson, Moorhead, Minn. ; Mr. A. 0. Kragness, Kragness,
Minn.; Mr. John Drady, Moorhead, Minn.; Mr. H. Rasmussen,
Moorhead, Minn.; Mr. 0. C. Beck, Moorhead, Minn.; Mr. 0. G.
Parsdale, Glyndon, Minn.
Rev. J. M. 0. Ness and L. Christianson have served as presi
dent and secretary respectively, continuously. 0. Martinson and
Erik Lee have also been members of the board since its organi
zation. Concordia College is owned and operated by the Northwestern
Lutheran College Association, an organization composed of a
number of leading men in the Red River valley who are members
of the Norwegian Lutheran church. The founding of the school
had its inception in a desire on the part of the early Norwegian
pioneers to preserve and perpetuate the principles of Christian
ity, the Norwegian language, and the customs and traditions of
the land of their birth. The school has no direct synodical
affiliation. The main sources of revenue are the voluntary con
tributions of interested philanthropists and the tuition received
from the students.
Concordia College opened its doors to the public October 15,
1891. The Bishop Whipple School, formerly maintained by the
Episcopalians, was purchased at a cost of ten thousand dollars.
The new institution received the name Concordia, which means
harmony, agreement, union. A name with such a signification
was given in order to commemorate the union of three Norwe
gian church bodies which had been effected one year previously.
The institution opened with three teachers and twelve students.
This number was, however, increased to over 200 the first part
of January, 1892.
The teachers who were elected and present at the opening of
the school were I. F. Grose, principal, E. D. Busby, and Mathilda
Pinseth. Later in the fall were added Rev. R. Bogstad, H. H.
Aaker, 0. J. Hagen, John Hagen, and O. S. Dyrkoren. The
names of the twelve students who were enrolled and present at
the opening were as follows: Thomas W. Thompson, Jens C.
Leines, Peder J. Lyng, Wilhelm P. Rognlie, O. S. Dyrkoren,

814 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Lars Thorsgaard, Anna Ellingson, Bessie Rygh, Oline Aabye,
Annie Arntson, Anna Helling, Bertine Iverson.
Dedication. — Amid fitting ceremonies Concordia College was
formally dedicated to educational work on the 31st of October,
1891. The dedicatory exercises were conducted by the Right
Reverend G. Hoyme, president of the United Lutheran Church
of America, assisted by Rev. L. M. Biorn, of Zumbrota, Minn.,
vice-president of the same body. Speeches were also made
by Prof. Sven Ofstedahl, of the Augsburg Seminary, and
Prof. I. P. Grose, the first principal of Concordia College. The
city was represented by Judge Ira B. Mills. Rev. A. Wright,
of Rushford, Minn., delivered an address on the Lutheran Refor
mation, the 31st of October being the anniversary of that event.
Buildings. — The school began its operations in 1891 with one
building. This building has later been remodeled and renovated
and is now used as a dormitory for the young ladies of the insti
tution, known as the Ladies' Hall. The Boys' Dormitory was
erected in 1892. This is a large and commodious structure which
affords dormitory accommodations for the young men. The
President's Residence was built in 1904. It is occupied by the
president of the college. The Main Building, erected in 1906, is
a substantial structure of brick and stone. It contains the gym
nasium, library, recitation rooms and the offices of the adminis
trative officers.
From an inauspicious beginning the institution has become
one of magnitude. From one building, twelve students and three
teachers at the opening, there are now, less than two decades
later, four buildings, twenty teachers, and a student body 500
strong. The real estate of the institution is conservatively esti
mated at $175,000. The men who have acted as field secretaries
and raised most of these funds are the ReA7s. J. M. O. Ness, R.
Bogstad, Louis S. Marrick, and H. O. Thurson.
The internal development of the school has been parallel with
the outward progress. The courses have from time to time been
materially broadened and strengthened. New departments have
also been added to the curricula. The school maintains the fol
lowing courses :
The Classic School, with academic and collegiate departments,

CLAY COUNTY 815
including two ancient and three modern languages, elementary
and higher mathematics and sciences, prepares for the study of
theology, medicine, law, civil engineering, etc. No tuition is
charged for this course.
The Normal School prepares teachers for common and paro
chial schools. It includes advanced instruction in all common
branches such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, grammar, rhet
oric, American and English literature, English and American
history, history of the world, history of education, civil govern
ment, physiology, zoology, physics, chemistry, botany, psychology,
pedagogy, and philosophy of education. Instruction in the rudi
ments of music, elocution, and physical culture is also given. Those
who prepare for the parochial schools are also given instruction
in Norwegian, in the catechism, Bible study, catechetics, and
church history.
The School for Girls, with cooking, sewing, needle work, dress
making, millinery, art, drawing, water color, oil painting, pastel,
and china painting. No charge for tuition in this course.
The School of Commerce, including penmanship, bookkeeping,
business practice, business arithmetic, business English, commer
cial law, banking, touch typewriting, and Gregg shorthand. The
tuition in this course is $5 per month.
The School of Music, with preparatory, intermediate, and ad
vanced classes in piano, organ, voice, violin, theory, harmony,
history, ear training, and dictation. Choruses, choirs, and classes
in ear training and dictation are conducted free of charge. For
private instruction in piano, organ, and voice the charges range
from $0.50 to $1.50 per lesson.
The School of Elocution and Physical Culture, with private
and class instruction. Stress is laid on correct enunciation, pro
nunciation, breath control, strength and purity of voice, natural
ness, animation, spontaneity and clearness of expression. Gym
nastic classes give exercises for breathing, walking, running, free
ing of joints, muscular development, grace and ease of movement.
Class instruction free. Charges for private lessons in elocution
and physical culture range from $0.50 to $1.50.
The School of Manual Training is especially organized for

816 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
the young men in the institution. Special stress is laid on me
chanical and architectural drawing, carpenter work of all kinds,
bench work, and wood turning. Instruction may be had in all
the common branches, such as grammar, arithmetic, reading,
history, etc. Tuition in this course is $5 per month.
The Preparatory School is maintained for the purpose of giv
ing persons whose education has been neglected and who now
feel it impossible to take time for a complete course of study.
In this school is also included instruction for those who lately
have come from Norway, Sweden, and Germany, with probably
a good education adapted to the needs of their mother country,
but who have not had instruction in the English and such sub
jects as are absolutely necessary for a well informed American
citizen. A Bible Institute is maintained for those who desire a more
extensive knowledge of the Bible. No charge for tuition.
The charges for board and room, including heat, light, and
all modern conveniences, are $150 for the school year of nine
months. I. F. Grose was the first principal of the school, serving till
1893, when H. H. Aaker became his successor and served till
1902. R. Bogstad is the present incumbent of the executive chair.
Time has fully vindicated that there is not only room but
need in this locality for an institution of learning constructed on
a broad and liberal basis in furtherance of the purest ethics
and in the line of a faithful fulfillment of the fundamental prin
ciples and duties of Christianity. The school has enjoyed a lib
eral patronage and has been able to send out many students who
have become powerful factors in the avenues of usefulness in the
work of the world.
The prospects for the future are bright. Plans are being
made for new buildings, more extensive courses of study are
contemplated, and the establishment of a permanent endowment
fund has been originated. With all these evidences of progress
and advancement it seems evident that Concordia College is
approaching a brilliant future.

(yt: (y^-zrY^^^

CLAY COUNTY 817

Items of Interest.

Concordia College celebrated the tenth anniversary October
31, 1901. The speakers of the day were Rev. John 0. Haugen,
of Decorah, la., who was the, man that named the school; Rev.
J. C. Roseland, of Austin, Minn. ; Rev. S. 0. Braaten, of Thomp
son, N. Dak., and Rev. J. M. 0. Ness, of Perley, Minn., president
of the College Association.
Concordia College was the first institution west of Minne
apolis to render one of the great Oratorios. Hayden's Creation
was rendered in 1893 for the first time, and again in 1906, at
the corner stone laying of the new Main Building.
Three hundred have graduated from one or more of the
courses. Most of these hold prominent positions in church and
state, such as doctors, attorneys, professors of higher institutions
of learning, clergymen, business men, and farmers. Seven are
missionaries in the foreign field.
President Bogstad was born in Nordfjord, Norway, October
5, 1861. He is a son of Rasmus and Johanna Bogstad. He was
educated in schools of Norway up to the eighteenth year. Studied
at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa; Theological Seminary, and
University of Minnesota. He was first employed in teaching
school from 1885 to 1890; was ordained minister in 1890. Pro
fessor of Latin, German, Norwegian, and Bible study in Con
cordia College at Moorhead from 1891 to 1902. Has been president
of the same institution from 1902 to the present time.
He has been very active in advancing the college interests,
and has left no stone unturned to accomplish the good work.
The winter and spring have been spent at home in looking after
and providing for the constant increasing attendance. The sum
mer has been devoted to work in the field, soliciting students
and funds for the institution. President Bogstad has raised more
of the money now invested in the college property, which is
worth $175,000, than any other single man.
Churches.
The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1872, with Rev. O.
H. Elmer pastor. Mr. Elmer was the pioneer preacher of the

818 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Red River valley and helped organize several of the first churches
in Minnesota and North Dakota. His first service was conducted
in the dining room of the "Chapin House," and, until a church
home was built, several different places were used as places of
worship, unused railroad coaches, often being utilized for this
purpose. The First Presbyterian Chapel was located where
Wade's bicycle shop now stands, and was made use of for school,
public and political purposes. The far-famed Red River Congress
held its sessions within this chapel, and it was much in demand
as a place for public meetings.
When this chapel was sold to the Episcopalians it was moved
and enlarged and was occupied by them until the erection of
their beautiful church on Eighth street.
In 1874 the Presbyterian church was built, which was struck
by lightning and burned in August, 1877. The last church build
ing erected on the same site Avas destroyed by fire in the spring
of 1909. Plans are now being made to rebuild. A comfortable
manse was recently added to this organization, and it escaped the
fire which destroyed the church.
St. John's Episcopal Church Avas organized in 1873, with Dr.
Dudley officiating as rector, assisted by Mr. B. P. Mackall, who
for many years conducted services in the absence of the rector,
and still conducts services when necessary. Mr. Mackall is per
haps the oldest layman in service in Minnesota. St. John's Epis
copal church has a most beautiful church edifice and rectory,
and is far reaching in its influence for good.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church was organized in 1872, and the
original building stood in about the same spot as the parish build
ings now stand. Father Junie was the first Avho conducted serv
ices here, and Father Augustine, who was a faithful worker in
the parish for eleven years, was instrumental in the erection of
the large and beautiful church in which worship is now held.
A parochial school was built at the same time, and there is now
also a commodious and comfortable home for priests and a house
for the Benedictine sisters.
Grace M. E. Church. — Among the later churches of Moorhead
is the Grace Methodist Episcopal church, organized about 1882,
with Dr. Dunn pastor. This church also enjoys the comforts of

CLAY COUNTY 819
a good building and manse and is very much alive in the interests
of doing good.
The Trinity Lutheran Norwegian Church is one of the strong
est in the city. It has a fine church building and pastor's home.
This church was organized in 1882.
The First Congregational Church is one of the more recently
organized churches, but is one of the most influential in the city.
The church is located on Eighth street and Fourth avenue, and
is a large and handsome building.
Bethesda Lutheran Church was established in 1880, under the
guidance of Rev. 0. Cavelin. It has steadily progressed and has
now an elegant church home and parsonage.
Besides these churches are two mission churches and a thriving
Sanation Army. Swedish Hospital.
In connection with the Swedish Lutheran church is the
Bethesda Hospital, which has been built during the past year at
a cost of about $50,000. This institution is elegantly equipped
with all the modern conveniences and is successful under the
management of the Rev. Nyvall, who retired from his pulpit to
head this splendid enterprise. The hospital is a three-story,
cream-brick building, furnished with all the latest improvements
for hospital purposes. Dr. Nyvall, president and manager.
Rev. J. A. Nyvoll first came to Moorhead in 1896, from Swe
den, where he was educated. He began his first duties by serving
the State Church of Sweden as superintendent of the public
schools at Jonkoping. In 1885 he founded the first co-edueational
college ever instituted in Sweden, and served for eight years as
its president.In 1895 he Avas ordained at Augustana Theological Seminary at
Rock Island, whence he was called to St. Cloud, where he re
mained one year. The congregation of Moorhead then extended
him a call, and he remained here till 1901. In that year the
church at Rock Island, 111., requested his services, and he re
sponded. In that field he labored for two and a half years, when
he was recalled by the congregation of the Swedish Lutheran
church of Moorhead, and by this church he has since been
retained.

820 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
From the day of his recall to this city, Rev. Nyvall began the
wonderful organization work which has done so much for the
Lutheran faith in this section. At that time the Swedish Lutheran
church occupied the old High school. Within a short time after
his arrival the present handsome edifice began building, and it
was due to his energy and the confidence the people reposed in
him that it was completed. Having achieved this much, Rev.
Nyvall, in 1907, began working for a Bethesda Society, and within
one year thereafter the Northwestern hospital herein shown rose
as though in a night. He did all the soliciting, he was tireless in
his labors, and the people of Moorhead owe him a debt which is
ineffaceable. Rev. Nyvall, always an indefatigable worker, has also had
much newspaper experience. He conducted, in conjunction with
the late lamented Dr. Carl Svenson, of note of Bethany College,
Lindsborg, Kan., at Chicago, for three years, the Swedish Lu
theran church paper "Fosterlandet," which, interpreted, means
"The Country of Our Fatherland."
Rev. Nyvall is sincerely beloved by all who know him. He is
of that gentle and sunny disposition which impels one to feel
that he was in reality called to the pulpit. As an organizer he is
a marvelous man, as his work shows, and as an executive he is
logical and decisive. As a pastor he is eloquent and is beloved
by his flock, and as a divine who has brought benevolence and
the desire for a higher life into our midst he has no peer.
Glyndon.
In the spring of 1872 the village of Glyndon was laid out and
it soon became a rival of Moorhead in commercial interests,
though Moorhead had the advantage in having the river trans
portation. Glyndon is situated ten miles north of Moorhead, at
the junction of the Northern Pacific and the original line of the
Great Northern.
It was here that the Northern Pacific colonist building, for the
English colony, was located, and the Yoevil colony, which after
ward settled at Hawley, occupied the building for a time. Some
of the early settlers of the village still make their home in
Glyndon, among whom are E. D. North and J. D. Buckingham.

,-,-,..

NORTHWESTERN HOSPITAL, MOORHEAD

CLAY COUNTY 821
Kurtz.
The town of Kurtz, on the Moorhead Southern railroad, is
quite a shipping point for farm products. It has two elevators
and general stores, has several fine homes, and surrounded by
the best land in the valley. Hawley.
Hawley, Clay county, is situated on the Northern Pacific rail
road, about twenty-two miles east of Moorhead, and has a popu
lation of about 700. Its people are a wide-awake, up-to-date
class, full of enterprise and push. The town has two banks, one
flour mill, four general stores, two elevators, and four churches.
Its public schools are splendidly equipped and are of a high
standard. Hawley is located in the vicinity of excellent farming
lands and is a centre for farm products for miles around.
The first election for the purpose of organizing the Village
of Hawley, was held at the store of W. Tanner & Company,
February 5, 1884, according to an order issued by the court of
the First Judicial District, January 19, 1884, at Duluth, Minn.,
and duly recorded in the office of the clerk of the District Court
at Moorhead, January 23, 1884. The notice for meeting and or
ganizing the village was read by Walter Tanner, one of the
persons named in the court order for the purpose of calling said
meeting. E. M. Sibley and M. C. Whalley were chosen judges of elec
tion. Alexander Cammer, clerk. The first president of the Vil
lage Council was Olof H. Smalley; trustees, Hans Rushfeldt, C.
L. Nieols, Daniel 0. Donnell; recorder, John Castain; treasurer,
Herbert Glaisyer ; justices of the peace, F. M. Cummings and R.
H. Cass; constable, Syres A. Bilhern. The first council meeting
was held in the passenger depot, February 9, 1884. The bonds
of village officers were fixed as folloAvs: Recorder, $100; treas
urer, $500 ; justice of the peace, $500 ; constable, $300.
Hawley, Clay county, originally known as Bethel, given by
the Puget Sound Land Company, first owners of the town site,
changed afterwards to Hawley, in honor, it is said, of General
Hawley, one of the original stockholders of the Northern Pacific.

822 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
It is a picturesque village of 800 people, with one of the best agri
cultural districts surrounding it. Eglon township, situated south
east, is distinguished for its many church buildings and schools,
all tributary to Hawley. The first settler to arrive with the
railroad was Daniel 0. Donnell, who became section foreman.
The first white child born in Hawley was his daughter Maggie.
The first mill was built two miles south of town on the Buf
falo river by Trieat Jacobson. At this point the Scandinavian
colony found their first stopping place, and the hospitality of the
Jacobsons will always be remembered by those who found shelter
there until they could shift for themselves. A good hot cup of
coffee and the pleasant words of Mrs. Jacobson went a long way
to cheer the weary pioneers in this wilderness.
The towns of Tansem, Parkes, Eglon, and Skoll, on the south,
and Highland Grove, Cromwell, and Keen, on the north, have
some of the pioneers still on their lands, although great changes
have taken place and new comers are on the farms.
The first settlement in Hawley was by an English colony in
1873, comprising Welsh, English, and Scotch, headed by Rev.
George Rogers, their former pastor in England. Three thousand
persons had decided to leave the shores of England, but of this
number only 300 actually came to try their fortunes in the new
world, being distributed from Wadena through the state, eighty
being the number to reach Hawley. The latter place was pic
tured as a garden of paradise, with no pebbles of any kind, lec
tures being delivered along these lines in England. Arriving at
St. Paul, the colony was entertained by the St. Georges and
English Club, and there it leaked out at the banquet that Hawley
would be a disappointment to many. Glyden was praised by the
lecturers in England, as the greatest of all places. At this point,
the Northern Pacific railroad had built a reception house 32x160
feet, two stories high, with large ells for kitchen, where the colony
was housed. There was a church at Glynden, though undenomi
national, now used as a Lutheran church.
The Union and English speaking people built their own church
in 1883, and a two-story schoolhouse is still an old landmark.
The money panic of 1873 and the J. Cooke & Company failure
caused a great loss, and the grasshopper put the climax on the

CLAY COUNTY 823
whole, causing many to move away, including the "Red River
Newspaper," which was conducted from 1872 to 1875, and later
became the "Fargo Times." Improvements came, however, and
everything was prosperous until 1886, when fire wiped them out.
Now Glynden has a population of 200, with a state bank, two
general stores, one hotel, lumberyard, three grain elevators, a
graded schoolhouse, blacksmith shops, farm implement house,
union depot, and the ' ' Red River News, ' ' a paper edited by Luther
Osborne, with Ray Osborne as manager. One feature of this
prosperous little village is their prettily enclosed park and nice
houses. When the English colony arrived at Hawley everything was
primitive and full of sloughs and swamps. The street north of
the station was a regular lake. Glynden was represented to have
a daily newspaper contemplated, and that hotel registers showed
thousands of names. This colony was under charge of J. B.
Combs, agent for the Northern Pacific railroad, who accompanied
them from New York, it taking two weeks to make the trip. On
arrival here, many went to work on the section at $2 per day;
the railroad fare from St. Paul was five cents per mile. This
colony was composed of cultured men, used to good living, many
of whom had brought money with them, only to lose it, while
many of the poorer class accepted employment on the railroad
section. They lived here but a few years, and moved to some other
clime. The Norwegians, used to the far north and understanding
farming, have withstood the hardships of pioneer life, working
early and late; they have prospered and have well improved
farms and beautiful homes.
In 1873 they began to arrive with ox teams from southern
Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Wheat raising has now been converted into diversified farm
ing, which has brought success to the sturdy Norwegian and
Swede farmers, who, with their wives, endured the early trials
and hardships and stood shoulder to shoulder in the fields.
The dairy has opened a new field in Clay county ; two cream
eries in 1908 turning out 100,000 pounds of butter. From 1894 to
1895 land values were placed at $8 to $10 per acre, while in 1909

824 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
the same lands are valued at from $25 to $40 per acre. With the
development of Clay county, school districts have increased, until
they rank with many parts of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, at
the close of 1908.
The first schoolhouse, a two-story frame building, was sold
and moved to Sixth street, Hawley, next to the Herald building.
This building was replaced by a four-room frame building, which
was lost by fire in 1896, and was replaced with a more modern
brick structure, which later was added to, and now a complete
high school course of four years is taught. This modern high
school building compares favorably with others in the state, with
an enrollment of 282 scholars and eight teachers.
The State Bank of Hawley was organized by Ole Oleson, who
at once adA'ertised in eastern states the advantages of Clay county,
and succeeded in bringing in many farmers, and the growth of
the eastern part of Clay county is largely due to his efforts.
Statement 411, of the State Bank, November, 1908, shows loans
and discounts, $155,557.94; total deposits, $196,445.08; capital
stock, $30,000. H. P. Gunderson, cashier ; E. F. Burlingham, vice-
president. The First National Bank was organized in 1905. President,
J. P. H. Glaisyer; cashier, S. B. Widlund. The capital stock is
$25,000; surplus, $20,000; deposits, $100,000; cash exchange,
$23,000. The directors are H. Glaisyer, H. F. Mensing, Andrew
Johnson, and Edwin Adams. The first attorney came to Hawley
in 1884; remained in general practice until 1892, then moved to
Moorhead. The Union Church of Hawley was organized August 4, 1873,
with twenty-six charter members. The first pastor, ReA\ George
Rogers, remained from August 1, 1873, to December 1, 1874. The
membership consisted of Episcopalians, Baptists, Congregation-
alists, Methodists, Plymouth Brethren, and Presbyterians. Resi
dent members in 1909, forty-seven males, thirteen females, thirty-
four non-resident members, and twenty-six families connected
with the congregation ; thirty meeting houses were built in 1887,
and the parsonage erected in 1879-80. The pastor, since Septem
ber, 1907, has been Herbert J. Taylor ; salary of $700 ; parsonage
free ; value of buildings and lots, $3,500. Services are held each

REV. J. A. NYVOLL

CLAY COUNTY 825
Sunday at 10 :45 a. m. and 7 :30 p. m. Sunday school at 12 m.,
with an enrollment of sixty scholars and six teachers.
Sabin, the center of the Clay county potato belt, is a thriving
little toAvn on the Great Northern. It has the usual stores and
bank, and its land sells at a higher price than that of any inland
town in the county.
Georgetown, sixteen miles from the county seat, was reorgan
ized in '64, after the Indian outbreak had subsided, and this is
or has been the home of some of Clay county's oldest settlers;
has two general stores, one bank, hotel, two churches, two ele
vators. Situated on the Moorhead Northern railway.
Barnesville.
Barnesville was established in 1874 and is noAV an incorporated
city. It is situated on the northern division of the Great Northern
railroad, and the shops being located here gives employment to
a large force of men. Barnesville owns its own telephone and
electric light plant and is in every respect a thriving young city.
Its business men are energetic and enterprising. It is well sup
plied with churches and schools and is an important factor in
county affairs.
Located in the south-central part of Clay county, is surrounded
by a thriving farming community. The Great Northern railroad
has their repair shops here and employ about 100 skilled me
chanics. Barnesville is also a division point of this road. When
the line of the old St. Paul & Pacific railroad, now a part of the
Great Northern system, was constructed through Breckenridge,
then came the birth of Barnesville, named after George S. Barnes,
of Fargo, formerly of Glynden township, who began the selling
of merchandise and buying of wheat in 1874. Farmers came from
the other side of Fergus Palls, hauling their grain with ox teams.
They often had to wait several days to unload, the rush being
so great. About 40,000 bushels of wheat, was loaded and shipped
to Duluth the first year.
Among the early settlers in the late seventies were John
Marth, Frank Mackenroth, J. A. Kargas, John Janneek, and John
Utterbery, all of whom arrived during 1872 to 1878. In 1879

826 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
came M. McDunn, John McGrath, Dennis F. McGrath, D. W,
Tulley, John Tulley, L. H. Baker, and Frank Bumgardner.
In November, 1881, the northeast quarter Section 25, south
half of southeast quarter Section 24, Township of Barnesville, and
the Avest half of northwest quarter of Section 30, Township of
Humboldt were incorporated as the Village of Barnesville, and
on November 30, this year, the first election was held, and the
following officers elected: L. H. Colby, president; John Marth,
John Yager, and M. McDunn, trustees ; John Utterbery, treasurer ;
M. P. Phillippi, recorder ; P. E. Thompson, justice. In 1885 came
a movement for the incorporation to include part of Sections 30
and 31, Humboldt township, and the southeast quarter Section
25, Barnesville township. At a special election, held January 11,
1886, at Knoll's hotel, the proposition was unanimously carried.
At the village election, held in March of this year, C. C. Pensonby
was elected president; Joseph Collinson, F. D. Bell, and George
Perkins were elected trustees ; James Ryan, recorder ; G. D. Mc-
Cubsey, treasurer; Frank Mackinroth and J. Paterson, justices.
Considerable strife arose between the old and new governments,
and in 1889 the two factions united in a movement to incorporate
as a city, and accordingly a committee was appointed to draft
a bill for the purpose. Officers were named as follows : John
McGrath, acting mayor; C. C. Pensonby, city clerk; Dennis F,
McGrath, treasurer; J. G. Tweeton, assessor; Dr. Patterson, phy.
sician; G. D. McCubsey and H. B. Davis, justices. The "Review,"
now the "Record," was named as the official newspaper. At a
later meeting F. H. Paterson was appointed city attorney.
The present city has a population of 1,500 ; is a thriving place
with three up-to-date department stores, two hardware and two
drug stores, two attorneys, several physicians, two photograph
studios, two jewelers, five elevators, two barber shops, two meat
markets, two hotels, three restaurants, bakery, livery stables, and
a first class lunch room at the depot. The newspaper edited by
J. B. Woollan, known as the "Recorder Review," has a circula
tion of 1,300. The old store buildings have been replaced with
modern brick blocks.
The city owns its own electric light plant and water works.
The well organized fire department, with its steam fire engine,

C/ c2- ^is^vi^^^^^-^/^^ .

CLAY COUNTY 827
affords ample fire protection. The first school district, including
the towns of Barnesville, Humboldt, Elmwood, and Elkton, was
organized in 1880 and was known as District 17. In 1886 District
No. 60 was formed out of that part of District 17 which was lo
cated in the village of Barnesville. A new schoolhouse was built
and opened in November of this year. Finally, in 1890, these
schools were placed under an independent district, and Thomas
Torson elected principal. Churches.
In 1891 a Catholic Parochial school was started under the
Benedictine Sisters. The first church services were held at the
residence of M. McDunn, and later services were held in the
schoolhouse — a priest from Moorhead officiated. The first church,
a frame building, was later replaced by a modern brick-trimmed
structure, costing $25,000.
German Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in 1881.
The building was erected in 1886.
Congregational church. In 1884 the first Congregational
church held their first services in Hawley, and in 1885 a new
church building was erected on lots donated by P. E. Thompson.
Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran church was organized
April 7, 1889. Their fine church was erected on lots which were
also donated by P. E. Thompson.
Methodist Episcopal church first held services in the Perkins
block, but since the fall of 1885, when their church edifice was
completed, services have been held in this building.
Ulen.
Ulen, a village situated in the northern tier of the county. It
is a busy little place, well represented by business men, banks,
stores, and elevators, and owns its own electric light plant and
telephone system. It has good schools and supplied with churches,
and is up-to-date in every way.
Ulen was named in honor of Ole Ulen, a prominent pioneer
of this section. It is a city of between five and six hundred peo
ple, and is pleasantly situated in the midst of a splendid farming
country ; the people of the town and surrounding country are of a

828 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
high class, industrious and progressive. The town is well located
on the main line of the Northern Pacific railroad. Its official ex
istence began on the 2d of December, 1896, when the first council
meeting was held with the following officers: A. T. Austinsen,
president of the village ; H. S. Moebeck, H. G. Dutoff, and J. T.
Johnston, trustees ; C. P. Paulson, recorder ; 0. A. Anderson, treas
urer ; T. C. Froig, street commissioner ; M. E. Todd, justice of the
peace, and A. 0. Milhen, constable.
The religious and educational needs of the city are provided
for by three well supported churches, which are written of in
another article. The school building is of modern construction,
of five rooms, with all appliances, and a full equipment of schol
ars, who are supplied with all of the conveniences which go to
make school days pleasant and profitable. The first teachers in
the village were Ida Irish and Clara Prior.
An up-to-date flouring mill is one of the chief industries of
the city, with a daily capacity of sixty barrels, with Mr. Charles
Kunkel as the proprietor.
There is a co-operative creamery, which is also in successful
operation, owned by over forty of the enterprising farmers of
the vicinity. They manufacture a gilt-edge product which finds
a ready market.
Four general stores well stocked with all the necessaries of
life and many of the luxuries. In addition to these, there is a
large hardware store, a drug store, a harness shop, and a neat
and clean meat market; a first class barber shop, Avith baths, is
also an addition to the personal appearance of the citizens, while
the traveler finds rest and the best of accommodations at the
Orient Hotel, of which Mr. Joseph McDonald is the presiding
angel. John McDonald conducts a first class livery barn, where
good rigs are always to be had on short notice. A lafge and well
arranged lumber yard, stocked with all kinds of building material,
goes to show that the people are constantly adding more improve
ments to an already well improved country. The banking inter
ests are well conserved by the safe and reliable First National
Bank of Ulen, with cash capital of $25,000. Four large elevators
are required to handle the grain shipments, and during the busy
season they are surely in a state of activity.

CLAY COUNTY 829
The general welfare of the city and surrounding country is
looked after at all times, through prosperity and adversity alike,
by the bright and newsy "Ulen Union," the toAvn newspaper.
Churches.
The Lutheran Church of Ulen, known originally as Halling-
dahl's Norwegian Evangelical church, south branch, was organ
ized by Rev. P. A. Nykreim in 1879. The charter members were
Ole Ulen, Peter Sliper, K. Jeitryg, G. Wasfaret, Lars Mellum,
Elling Wang, and Elias Rost. Services were first held in farm
houses divided between the members, until 1883, when a church
building twenty-four by thirty was erected on a two-acre lot,
which was partly donated and partly purchased by Arne Evean-
son, who had purchased the Ole Ulen farm and became a member
of the congregation. This building was erected near the river,
located about one mile from the village of Ulen.
Rev. Berg succeeded Rev. 0. K. Veium, remaining two years,
Avhen Rev. Nykreim again took charge. He also attended the
missions of Twin Valley, Garry, Waukan, and Flom, which was
known as "Emanuel's congregation." During the latter 's serv
ices, the membership was increased to such an extent that a new
and larger building was necessary, which was decided upon in
1889, and accordingly the old church was sold to B. H. Jeld for
$150. Rev. Veium resigned in 1893 and was succeeded by Rev.
Larson, who served but a short time, and was in turn succeeded
by Rev. Langhang, who served two years, and Rev. Strass, two
years. The latter pastor 's mission was divided ; one call was Ulen
and Twin Valley, and two congregations at Flom. Gary and
Waukan called Rev. Esletson and Rev. I. B. A. Dale, of Ulen.
The Ulen Evangelical Norwegian Church, in 1890, was at
tached to conference and became united to the United Lutheran
church of America. Rev. S. M. T. Nykreim was honored as a
delegate to yearly meetings. In 1893 the congregation was incor
porated under the state laws of Minnesota.
The Ulen church was dedicated in 1904 by Rev. T. H. Dahl,
formerly of the United church of America. In the fall of 1904,
he resigned and was succeeded by Rev. A. L. Huns, who is the
present pastor. The congregation consists of eighty members.

830 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
The Synod Lutheran Church. — On April 13, 1887, it was de
cided and resolutions adopted toward the building of a church
twenty-four by twenty-eight, and $380 was subscribed. At that
meeting, Nils W. Wiger and Helge Klemmetson were elected as
a committee on subscriptions. May 19, 1887, the building com
mittee elected consisted of the following members: Nils Wiger,
Ole Oleson, and Halvor Burtness. The first trustees were Halvor
Burtness, Elling Kefferdal, and Nils Hanson. The charter mem
bers were Halvor Burtness, Ole Asleson, Nils N. Wiger, EUing
Kepperdal, Nils Hanson, Bjorn Hendrickson, Helge Klemmetson,
Elling Klemmetson, and John Gratton. Rev. Bjorge officiated.
December 8, 1896, the church was incorporated under the laws of
the constitution of the Wisconsin Synod.
Comstock, situated on the Great Northern railroad, sixteen
miles south of Moorhead, has three elevators, potato house, two
stores, two churches, and the most complete blacksmith shop be
tween Minneapolis and Moorhead; has schoolhouse, hotel, livery,
butcher shop, restaurant, and boarding house; branch office of
Charles E. Lewis & Co. commission house; has about 300 inhab
itants ; some fine residences. About 175,000 bushels of grain were
handled at this point this year; sixty-five carloads of potatoes
shipped from here this year. The farmers generally are weU fixed
financially, and in addition to their successful farming, they are
getting into stock raising. David Askegaard ships about $4,000
worth of hogs a year. Mr. Ashegaard is the big farmer in this
section. About 35,000 acres of land are cultivated and devoted to
raising grain. There are also a great many potatoes shipped from
here, and Comstock is the headquarters for the Comstock Holy
Cross Farms Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which has in force
over $1,149,000.

\V. H. DAVY

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
MARSHALL COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
Marshall county, Minnesota, was organized in 1879. The first
board of county commissioners, appointed by Governor Pillsbury,
was composed of the following gentlemen: H. M. Craig, chair
man ; William A. Wallace, and Edwin S. Radcliffe.
The first regularly elected commissioners were : First district,
Albert P. Mclntyre, chairman; Second district, D. F. Kye, and
from the Third district, Alfred Diamond. The following other
county officers were also elected: Sheriff, Willis T. Loekery,
under bond of $5,000; William A. Wallace, treasurer, bond of
$2,000 ; register of deeds, Thomas R. Craig, bond of $5,000 ; county
auditor, O. Taylor, bond of $2,000 ; judge of Probate Court, John
W. Slee, under bond of $1,000; court commissioner, A. E. Flint,
bond of $2,000; county surveyor, E. Whitney; county superin
tendent of schools, James Brown, whose first yearly salary was
$75. First clerk of the District Court was James P. Nelson, whose
bond was $1,000.
In 1878 a branch of the St. Paul and Pacific , railway, which
was at that time in the hands of a receiver, and later became the
St. P. N. & M. R. R., which was leased by James J. Hill, and which
is now owned and controlled by the Great Northern system, and
is their main line from Winnipeg to the Twin Cities, was extended
to Warren. The first train to arrive was in the latter part of
August, 1878, and the first regular train from Emerson to Crooks
ton was run in November of the same year. The question of a
depot was one of importance to the residents of Warren, and
when it became known that the railroad company intended fo
erect their depot one mile away from Warren, Mr. Albert P.
Mclntyre, the father of many moves in the organization of the
county, was consulted, and later was appointed as a committee
of one to wait on the railroad officials. 831

832 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Mr. Mclntyre got down to business at once, and told these
officials that the business of Warren was going to be conducted
right there, and not a mile away. When Mr. Mclntyre undertook
to do anything he generally accomplished his purpose, and so in
this case was he successful, for the very next morning a gang of
men were sent to build the station, which started in 1878 and was
completed in 1879.
The records show the following business to have been trans
acted by the commissioners: April 20, 1879, the resignation of
W. H. Gilbert as sheriff was tendered and accepted, A. P. Mcln
tyre being appointed to fill the vacancy. April 30, 1879, papers
from the state auditor relating to School Section 36, Town 155,
Range 48, were taken up, and Edwin R. Ross appointed for the
First district and James B. Titus for the Second district. Janu
ary 6, 1880, A. P. Mclntyre was appointed assessor and road
master of District No. 1, and George Foresythe to the same office
of District No. 2. Bonds of W. Lockey for sheriff were examined
and approved, and a salary of $75 per annum was voted for
county superintendent of schools.
January 7, 1880, roads were laid out as follows : School Dis
trict No. 2, southwest corner Section 34, Town 155, Range 48,
thence northwest corner Section 22, same town and range, thence
east to the northeast corner of Section 21, Range 47, thence south
to the southeast corner of Section 33, same town and Range 47,
thence west to the starting point. At a special meeting, held
March 16, 1880, those present were Christopher Anderson and
A. P. Mclntyre. A. P. Mclntyre was appointed to fill a vacancy
instead of H. U. Craig.
A special meeting Avas held February 8, 1881, to organize
Township 155, Range 46, which was adopted as Comstock, and
the following officers were duly elected: three supervisors, town
clerk, treasurer, assessor, two justices of the peace, and two eon-
stables. Judges of election, Peter Rutz, Frank Zedikers, and
Frank Lull; clerk, Fred Tript.
County roads were laid out between Sections 34 and 35, Town
155, Range 48, running north on section line, intersecting the
right of way of the St. P. M. M. R. R. ; thence on the west side of
right of way, through the town of Middle River and Tamarac, to

MARSHALL COUNTY" 833
the north line of Section 8, of Tamarac; thence northeast across
the railroad track to a point on Tamarac river, about thirty-five
rods east of the center of said railway right of way, to the bridge
on Section 5, crossing said river, intersecting said right of way
of the railway; thence north on the east side of the railroad, to
the north line of the county. Located a county line road, com
mencing at the northeast corner of Section 36, Town 155, Range
48, running west through said town.
The following resolution was passed : Resolved, That we ask
Mr. Sampson, the first legislator of Marshall county, to introduce
a bill to bond Marshall county for $3,000, for the purpose of fund
ing bridge indebtedness.
A special meeting was held March 15, 1881, for the opening
of another road from the Red River town line, between Towns
155 and 156, Range 50. At the same meeting School District No.
4 was organized. In 1882 the liquor license was fixed at $100.
First Grand Jurors of Marshall County.
The first grand jurors of Marshall county were : R. Whitney,
John Pile, Joseph Parsor, John Sinery, Michael McCullough, Ole
Johnson, Bernard Nelson, W. A. Wallace, Tuff Remillard, James
Headrick, John Barry, William Barry, Tom Stewart, Joseph Par-
rin, Thomas Guroin, Patrick Deinpsey, Thomas Connors, Richard
Hurst, John Planzran, Ezra Cook, P. Jarvis, Henry O'Shay, Peter
Dolgren, Henry Kye, W. Carrese, Henry Stutts, Peter Olson, Peter
Tell, Michael Germain, Michael Lesslie, Peter Rutz, A. W. Shorey,
Mark Stevens, Frank Smith, C. M. Johnson, Bent Johnson, James
Ellis, John Nelson, A. N. Jarrisen ; James P. Nelson, district clerk.
First marriage in Marshall county was between Charles Wen-
zel, of Prussia, and Mrs. Emma Smith, a native of Switzerland,
widow of Peter Smith.
The first white boy born in the county was Roy Rossman, in
1880, and the first white girl was Winnie MeCrea, in 1880.
The first brick manufactured in Marshall county was manu
factured by August Lundgren, on the southwest quarter of Sec
tion 36, Town of Warrenton, Range 48, which is now on the city
plot and known as Lundgrens' Addition to Warren. The annual

834 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
output is about 1,000,000. The first brick building erected in the
county from this home product was the Bank of Warren, in 1883.
Organization of Townships.
The organization of townships in Marshall county began Octo
ber 14, 1879, when Middle River township was organized, with
E. Blum as chairman and H. Bergner as clerk. During the same
year townships of Tamarac and Wallace, afterwards changed to
Warrenton, commenced their official existence, with Nath M.
Hanson and C. W. Abrahamson as chairman, and John H. Merdink
and John L. Dalguist, as clerks of the above townships.
In 1881, Comstock township, with Charles Patrick, chairman,
and Joseph McGregor, clerk, was organized.
Five townships were started on their career during 1882,
McCrea having as her guiding officials, John Backlin and Syoer
Knutson ; Wanger, Olof Hvidsten and Charles Wilen, as chairman
and clerk; Bloomer was represented by Charles Strandberg and
Charles U. Dundas; Alma, with Charles Hant and Alfred E. Ho-
kanson ; and Big Woods by Robert Tell and O. Enge.
In the year 1883, the toAvnships of Oak Park, Vega, Foldahl,
and Sinnott were organized, with the following named gentlemen
as chairmen and clerks, in order named: L. T. Rykken, Charles
E. Wesberg, Armund Johnston, and John W. Swanson, chairmen,
and J. H. Wang, Carl W. Rodquist, John E. Hauger, and John
Harper, as clerks.
During 1884, the following eleven townships were launched,
and guided on their first voyage by the gentlemen whose names
follow : Excil, John Simonson and John Whitman ; Viking, Peter
Erickson and H. C. Hanson; Marsh Grove, A. C. Gast and Sam
Goplin ; West Valley, August O. Rokke and Abe Anderson ; Box-
ville, John Skurdahl and Nels Messelt ; Augsburg, A. B. Isaacson
and H. Hoper, Jr. ; Nelson Park, N. C. Rood and Charles Kongs-
vig ; Parker, C. K. Fodnes and C. Wise ; Newf olden, Brede Swend-
sen and N. Skaug; Wright, Peter Gajeski and John Gratzek; New
Solum, H. A. Silverness and Olof Opseth ; Spruce Valley, with H.
L. Kirby, chairman, and L. Johnston, clerk, dates from 1888. Holt
and Eagle townships, organized in 1890, H. O. Ekerdalen and Gust
Johnston, chairmen ; Halfdan Hanson and August Low, clerks.

MARSHALL COUNTY 835
Lincoln and Cedar date from 1892, R. Nelson and William Koepp,
first chairmen; Lars Nelson and Otto Krang, clerks. Donnelly,
in 1895, J. H. Melophny and Charles Ramiller, first officials.
In 1896 Thief Lake Fork and East Valley began as townships,
Tolly Skomstad, J. Ames, and E. A. Johnston, chairmen, and
Charles J. Berg, J. P. Lein, and J. A. Soem, clerks. Grand Plain
started in 1898, chairman and clerk, H. Roller and N. Bundhund ;
Rollis and East Park, with H. C. Nasoseth and R. Lund, chairmen,
and Ellis P. Fugoosand and Nels J. Sunberg, clerks, came into the
fold in 1899.
1900 saAV the beginning of New Main, Valley, and Como town
ships; C. C. Tyler, Oscar R. Nelson, and Enok Skramsand, chair
men ; Knute Knuteson, Otto Hotener, and C. Larmoe, clerks. 1901
saw the beginning of Eckvoll township ; Simon T. Rue and Charles
Gerber, chairman and clerk. In 1902 Huntley, Velt, Agder, and
Moylan were organized ; S. F. Hoff, Carl S. Rud, Silas Torgerson,
and P. A. Johnston being the choice for chairmen, and John John
ston, T. C. Johnston, A. J. Hustoolt, and Knut Rogness, clerks.
In 1903 Espellie was added to the list, followed by Moose
River in 1904, the chairmen in order being L. J. Ten old and Amos
Aas ; clerks, Paul F. Sund and N. N. Nilson.
County Officers of Marshall County.
August G. Lundgrene, county auditor; E. Dagsberg, county
treasurer; Carl Hanson, register of deeds; A. C. Swanby, clerk
of district court; Peter H. Holm, probate judge; William Fors-
berg, sheriff ; W. J. Brown, county attorney ; L. M. Mittun, super
intendent of schools; Jacob Biederman, coroner; J. R. Mack,
surveyor. County board: C. Wirrensten, First district; Peter
Wordlund, Second district ; Frank A. Green, Third district ; L. P.
Brandstrom, Fourth district, and John A. Sorum, Fifth district.
The assessed valuation for the county for 1908 was $6,573,442.
Taxes Levied for County Purposes.
County general  $29,843.43
Road and bridge  6,573.50
Interest and bonds  1,511.90
Total levy  $37,928.83

836 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
The population of the county has increased from 992, in 1880,
to 17,757 in 1905 ; this has been a permanent and natural increase
— no boom on speculation. District Judges.
The following are the judges of the District Court since its
organization, with their terms of service :
0. P. Sterans, now of Duluth, was the first judge, and held
the office from April 23, 1874, to 1894. His associate was R.
Reynolds, who served from March 19, 1875, to January 14, 1887.
Ira B. Mills came to the bench March 8, 1887, and served till
January, 1893. Frank Ives, from January, 1893, to 1899. Will
iam Watts, of Polk county, took his seat on the bench January 3,
1899, and his term of office expires in January, 1911. On March
24, 1903, Andrew Grindeland was appointed as judge of this
judicial district, and in 1904 was elected for a term of seven years.
Clerks.
The district clerks since the organization of the county have
been as follows :
James P. Nelson, 1879; A. B. Nelson succeeded his father, J.
P. Nelson, and was in turn succeeded by P. B. Malberg, W. A.
Case, T. Morde, and A. C. Swanby, who is the present clerk. The
first taxes paid in the county were by Lewis Fletcher, in 1879, on
the northeast quarter and west half of the northwest quarter and
the northwest quarter of the southeast half of lots 3-4-5 and 6,
Section 8, Town 155, Range 50, consisting of 152.25 and 161.35
acres, valued at $913.50 and $968.10. Frank M. Smith, county
treasurer; A. P. Mclntyre, deputy.
On December 20, 1879, a special meeting was held to consider
the bonds of J. W. Slee, probate judge, and Thomas R. Craig,
first register of deeds. Both bonds were approved. At the same
meeting an appropriation of $300 was made for the first county
building. This building was a one-story, one-room, and is now
used by W. F. Powell & Co. as a machinery shed. The second
county building was erected at a cost of $5,000, was two stories
high, and was in use till destroyed by fire.
The present county building, with the sheriff's 'residence and

MARSHALL COUNTY 837
jail, was erected in 1899, at a cost of $50,000, and is a handsome
and modern building throughout.
Michael McCullough, better and familiarly known as Tamarac
Mac, was the first settler who remained on his homestead, which
was located on Section 1, Town of Stephen 157, Range 48. He /
arrived in this county in 1872, and filed on his homestead May 6, ,
1879. There were others who filed ahead of him, but abandoned •
their claims on account of the railroads leaving there at that time."
Tamarac Mac was quite a character, a great trapper and
hunter. The country was full of game, large and small; elk,
deer, and occasionally bear, roamed the prairies. Prairie chickens
were in abundance, so thick that the settlers could shoot them in
any direction from their dug-outs and claims.
Tamarac Mac made trips to Crookston, Grand Forks, and as
far as Fargo and Moorhead for provisions, making the journey
with oxen, taking about a week for a trip. The story is told of
this pioneer starting on one of his perilous trips; he was caught
in a heavy blizzard about two or three miles out. Blinded by the
storm that was raging at the time, he took hold of the oxen's
tail which was leading, and served as his only guide to safety.
Landing near the cabin of another pioneer, Charles Wenzel,
Charley and Mac being close friends, he sheltered him and his
noble oxen. This story was told by his rescuer, Charles Wenzel.
Tamarac Mac lived on his homestead until he died. He was the
first to raise a crop of wheat in the county.
Henry McCollough filed May 6, 1879, on a homestead in the
same section as Michael, the same town and range, which is re
corded in the United States land office at Crookston.
The next settler was Charles Wenzel, who settled on the border
of Marshall county, which was then a strip of Polk county. His
homestead was located on the south half of northwest lots 3 and
4, Section 1, Township 154, Range 48 ; the date of his settling was
June 2, 1874. September of the same year Mr. Wenzel made a
statement on his claim, and on November 8, 1882, record shows
he made final proof.
Those who settled in 1878 and '79, on Section 32, Town 155,
Range 47, are as follows :
Frank M. Smith filed June 10, 1878, entire northeast quarter

838 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Section 32 ; W. A. Wallace, March 28, 1878 ; on February 20, 1879,
Albert P. Mclntyre filed on the northwest quarter ; March 4, 1879,
James B. Titus filed on the soutliAvest quarter.
Charles Wenzel, who located in the town of Tarley, Polk
county, on the border of Marshall county, is a native of Prussia,
arriving in the city of Quebec, Canada, in June, 1863; a black
smith by trade. He moved from Quebec to Michigan, near the
city of Detroit. Thence to Wisconsin ; in 1870 to Lake Superior ;
from there to Brainerd, Minn. ; thence to Crookston, in 1872, and
in 1874 settled on his homestead as above mentioned.
He broke up his land with oxen, but his first year was spent
in trapping and hunting, and he has seen as high as twenty-five
and thirty elk in a herd, eighty rods from where the town of
Warren is now located.
Mr. Wenzel first built a log shanty, sixteen by eighteen, lived
there until 1878, when the country began to settle up. Mr. Smith
and Mr. Mclntyre were his neighbors. Later on he built another
log house, using his first for a barn. In 1880 he attached a frame
house, fourteen by sixteen, where he lived until 1896, when he
platted his north eighty in town lots, selling the site of the City
park to the city of Warren, now known as Island park. At that
time he formed a partnership with Judge A. Grindeland, under
the firm name of Grindeland & Wenzel. That year he moved to
the south half of his homestead and erected a good frame house,
sixteen by forty, where he now enjoys the comforts of life. His
house is nicely located, overlooking the city. A foot bridge across
the river to Island park takes us direct to his pleasant home on
the hill. Public Schools of Marshall County, Minnesota.
The first school district Avas organized December 23, 1879, at
Stephen. The first regular school taught in a school building,
with regular desks and equipment, was opened in the village of
Warren. This building, size twenty by forty, a frame, first
erected in Marshall county, under the supervision of the first
elected board of county commissioners, with their able chairman,
Albert P. Mclntyre, the pioneer, a man of executive ability and

A. T. AUSTINSON

MARSHALL COUNTY 839
forethought. This building was ordered built by contractor, W.
H. Gilbert. The first teacher was Miss Ella Davies, succeeded by
James M. Brown. Those two were the first to leave their impress.
As the population increased a large and more modern brick
building was constructed on the site of the present high school;
it was a four-room structure. The frame schoolhouse was after
wards used as a place of worship for all denominations.
The first minister to preach in that building was a Methodist.
They held regular services there until 1883. This building was
also the first church home of the Congregation of the Swedish
Lutheran church, who after a time purchased it, and remained
there until they moved into their beautiful brick church, which
is an ornament to Warren. In 1909 we find this old schoolhouse
used as a warehouse.
The second schoolhouse in Warren was a four-room brick
building erected in 1883. This was succeeded by an eight-room
brick structure, and modern with good office, etc.
In 1895, Avhen a modern High School building was erected
under the supervision of the following school board: K. J. Taral-
seth, chairman; J. P. Mattson, clerk; Dr. G. S. Wattam, L. Lam-
berson, A. Grindeland, W. N. Powell. The old building was torn
down, and the brick utilized for the filling in of the New High
School building. The school contained 8 rooms, and an office.
The Washington School was next erected in 1904.
Both schools are sanitary, and well ventilated. The cost of
both buildings and site was $35,000, seats and desks $1,250,
school apparatus $500, libraries $1000; total $37,750. The num
ber of present teachers is fifteen. Geo. E. Kennan, superintend
ent, Miss May C. Fluke, principal.
This school teaches a complete high school course, including
manual training under A. M. Foker. Domestic science department
under special instructor Miss Emogene Cummings. Enrollment
in 1904, 504 pupils. Graduates in 1908, seven girls and five boys.
The school board in 1909 is as follows : John P. Mattson, chair
man ; W. N. Powell, clerk ; Dr. G. S. Wattam, W. P. Powell, C. E.
Lundquist, C. A. Tuller. The first Rural School District was or
ganized March 15th, 1880. The High Schools in the village of

840 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Marshall County are: Arguyle High School, E. C. Stackman,
Supt., Minerva Scheichting, Principal, and five other teachers;
Stevens High School, E. A. Williams, Supt., and seven teachers.
In the villages as follows are semi graded schools : Newf olden.
Middle River, Oslo, Alvarado. Total enrollment in three inde
pendent districts including Warren, 1005 pupils, common school
district, 3563 pupils. The first county superintendent of Mar
shall county was Jaines M. Brown, who was the second to teach
in first frame school-house already mentioned.
School Statistics in 1909.
There are over 100 libraries in the county, 50 are arranged
with modern ventilation; 136 school districts, 160 school-houses,
40 first grade teachers, 115 second grade teachers in rural dis
tricts. The present superintendent commenced his work Jan
uary 1, 1904. On his first official tour through the rural districts
he reports but six libraries, one first grade teacher, Willie Green,
son of the present county commissioner, P. A. Green, fifty sec
ond grade teachers in 1904, with not a single ventilating system
in vogue that year. Not a single school had drawn any state aid
in Marshall county in 1904, but in 1909 receiving about $5,000
special state aid for rural schools. Improvements have likewise
been made, and equipment of globes, maps, supplementary read
ing materials, reference books, and general equipments installed.
In 1904 not a school officer or teacher was recorded. Since
Superintendent Mithun took charge, he has formed an alliance
between the school officers and teachers, where they could meet,
and discuss the best methods of educating the children, holding
conventions at different parts of the county up to 1909. We
find from six to eight conventions, both teachers and officers.
The first year Superintendent Mithun called a school officers'
meeting at Warren, the county seat, there were present fifteen
members and about the same number of teachers. In 1909 at a
similar convention about 300 teachers were present, a splendid
program was rendered, and Education the topic of conArersation ;
an enjoyable time was spent and a closer fellowship brought
about between officers and teachers.

MARSHALL COUNTY 841
City of Warren, Minnesota.
By
J. P. Mattson.
Warren, loveliest "city of the plain, with a population of
2000, where health and plenty cheer the laboring swain," is
situated on the timber-fringed banks of the tortuous stream
known as Snake river, in Marshall county, Minnesota. There it
lies snugly nestled in a calm, peaceful and homelike bend of the
river, in the very heart of the Red River valley; a region famed
as the "bread basket" and the butter bowl of the world. No
wonder that a spot so charmingly situated should be chosen by
the first settlers in these parts as an ideal place for home, nor
that afterwards it was chosen as the site for a town destined
to play an important part in the development of the whole north
western part of the state.
The first settler in Warren was Charles Wentzel, a sturdy
German farmer, hunter, trapper, and frontiersman. He first
visited the country in 1872, but his residence dates from June 1,
1874, as on that day he arrived from Crookston with gun and
traps, and established his camp on the river bank near the present
Soo railway bridge. He employed himself at hunting and trap
ping in the counties of Marshall and Kittson. Game was very
plentiful in those days, moose and deer often visited him in
his cabin, prairie chickens swarmed everywhere — and there were
no game wardens anywhere to interfere.
During several years Mr. Wentzel remained monarch of all
he surveyed, and his right there was none to dispute, but in
1877, a number of spies came through to find out the lay of the
land. Among those who that year visited Mr. Wentzel in his
cabin was James P. Nelson of Eau Claire, Wis., who, as the
representative of a number of Eau Claire capitalists, came to
select a large tract of land for a "bonanza" farm. He picked
out the lands of the Pembina farm adjoining the city. Many
others came to see the country, and found it a land "flowing
with milk and honey. ' ' In the spring of 1878 they all came back,
bringing many other settlers with them. James P. Nelson

842 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
arrived with a crew of men and teams to break up the Pembina
farm. The trip from Crookston was made over-land, and re
quired many days. Their camp was established on the river
bank in the rear of the present residences of A. B. Nelson and
G. 0. Cross. Soon afterwards were selected the lands of the
Snake River farm owned by F. W. Woodward, of Eau Claire,
Wis., and Pratt of New York, the March and Spaulding farm,
owned by S. A. March, of Minneapolis, and P. Frost Spaulding,
of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and the "Irish farm," owned by
Honorable C. M. Ramsay.
The St. Vincent extension of the railroad north from Crooks
ton had been begun some years previous and the iron laid as
far as within two miles of Snake river. Afterwards the track
was torn up and the rails used in building the line from Crooks
ton to Fisher's Landing. In 1877 the receivers of the old St.
Paul & Pacific railway resumed construction work in order to
save the road's land grant, and by August, 1878, the road was
completed and trains running to Warren, and by November
through freight and passenger trains were run clear to Winni
peg. A water tank and pumphouse Avas built near the railway
bridge, the pumphouse serving also as depot until the company
erected a building for that purposce a year or two later. The
old section house, still standing, served as a railroad eating
house and was run by a man named W. H. Gilbert, both north
and southbound trains stopping there for dinner, sometimes
as many as 250 people being fed there at a meal.
With the completion of the railroad came a rush of settlers
eager to occupy the fertile lands that lay on either side — lands
that had laid dormant since the icy Avaters of ancient Lake
Agassiz, receded and left an alluvial deposit which in fertility
rivals the famous valley of the Nile. Now these broad prairies,
covered with a most luxurious growth of grass was to be occu
pied and made use of by men.
The years 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881 and 1882 may rightly be
termed the period of settlement, as in those years nearly all the
free government lands were settled. From all parts of the United
States came the enterprising and energetic American, the hardy
Canadian came, the industrious and frugal Swedes and Nor-

MARSHALL COUNTY 843
vvegians, the steady Germans, the hard-working Ccechs, the
sturdy Britons and Scots, and just enough Irish to hold the
offices — all came here in compliance with God's injunction to
our first parents, "to multiply and replenish the earth and to
subdue it." Most of the settlers were either young men or young
women, or newly married couples — all with hearts full of hope
and courage, and determined to carve for themselves homes and
a future in this new land of opportunity.
As the country filled up with settlers the need of a trading
point became felt. A postoffice was established with A. T. Minor
as postmaster. The postoffice and the infant village was first
named Farley, a name Avhich was changed to the euphoneous
Warren, in honor of general superintendent of the railroad at
that time.
Only two or three families besides Mr. Wentzel spent the
winter of 1878-79 on the present site of Warren. Early in the
spring stores were started by Johnson, Allen & Co., and McCrea
Bros., besides other business enterprises. A small hotel now
forming part of the present Lyon House was run by A. T. Minor.
The spring of 1879 brought all those who had filed on claims
the previous year, besides many others. Among those who came
that spring were Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Mclntyre, who had a home
stead two miles up the river. Their log house, which is still
standing and occupied, was built by that master carpenter and
veteran of the Civil War, Mr. W. A. Wallace. Among others
who came that year we remember Emmet W. Roosman, J. W.
Slee, A. E. Flint, A. B. Nelson, M. J. McCann, Ed Slee, G. 0.
Cross. The same year the first school was started in a small shanty
not much resembling the two modern, commodious and well
equipped school houses of today. Miss Ella Davies was the
first teacher.
The year 1879 was also a red letter one in the history of
Marshall county, as in that year the county was organized and
Warren named as the county seat. The first court house was
built, a little wooden building, which in turn has been used as a
court house, school house, county jail, horse barn and lastly
now by Powell, Wood & Company, as an automobile shed. Much

844 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
important business incidental to the organization of a new county,
such as laying out roads, building bridges and organizing school
districts, was transacted in said building, all of which A. P.
Mclntyre knows about, as he was a member of the first county
board. He also officiated as the first assessor and the first county
treasurer. The townsite of Warren was laid out in 1880, the land having
been purchased at a school land sale by A. E. Johnson, James P.
Nelson and Ethan Allen. The map of Warren published that
year tells its own story.
Among the settlers who came this year were Iver Burlum,
C. J. Johnson, J. P. Easton, E. Dady, H. J. Bennewitz, R. C.
Snyder, H. C. Mentzer.
A remarkable event of the same year was the marriage in
March of Charles Wentzel, the first settler. He had finally found
a bride after his own heart, one who had come from far away
Switzerland, and the whole community celebrated this first mar
riage. It was impossible to find wedding suits for either bride
or bridegroom at the stores, nor could a minister be secured to
tie the nuptial knot. From this union was born on Christmas
eve, the same year, a son Edward.
A local newspaper is a necessary adjunct of every live Amer
ican town and in December, 1880, the first issue of the Warren
Sheaf appeared, with A. Dewey, a relative of the famous admiral,
as the publisher.
In 1881 the new town assumed more and more the proportions
and dignity of a well regulated village. In a copy of the "War
ren Sheaf" for May 11, 1881, the following business enterprises
are represented or mentioned : Johnson, Allen & Company,
McCrea Brothers, Gilbert, Closson & Company, and E. Slee
general merchants; E. W. Rossman and Johnson, Allen & Com
pany, lumber yards ; H. J. Bennewitz, harness shop ; H. C. Ment
zer, farm machinery ; R. C. Snyder, wagon maker ; M. J. McCann,
advertises himself as the "village blacksmith," and during a
number of years he shoed horses and pounded iron in a shop
located on the corner now occupied by the J. J. Taralseth Com
pany store ; A. E. Johnson & Company, agents for railroad lands ;
E. F. Mclntyre, meat market ; Titus & Whitney, druggists ; Mark

MARSHALL COUNTY 845
Stevens, proprietor of the Warren House, now !the Lyon's
House; T. R. Davis, carpenter; J. P. Nelson, attorney and real
estate, and John W. Slee, land office, were early settlers.
The Warren Townsite Company was incorporated June 20,
1879. Incorporators and proprietors, James P. Nelson, Ethan
Allen, James C. McCrea, George H. McCrea, Alexander E. John
son, Loren Fletcher. Capital stock, $10,000. E. i/2 S. W. % of
the S. E. % of section 36, town 155, range 48, a portion of which
was platted November 1st, 1879, surveyed and platted by E. N.
Wilson, First Civil Engineer brought to Warren by James P.
Nelson, the secretary of the townsite company, June 10th, 1882,
the same owners of the unplatted portion of land above de
scribed caused the same to be surveyed and platted. Nelson's
Addition, which forms a part of the First Addition of the Town
of Warren. Those lots were purchased December 25, 1884.
At a special election April 17, 1883, to ascertain the wants of
the people in regard to the village being re-incorporated under
the General Statutes. Total votes twenty-one, all in favor of
re-incorporation. E. W. Rossman, A. P. Mclntyre, George H.
McCrea, W. H. Gilbert, were the trustees.
April 3, 1885, the village of Warren was re-incorporated under
the General Statutes, thirty-nine votes being cast unanimous for
the re-incorporation. The judges of election were, John Mc-
Claren, W. R. Edwards, Andrew Grindeland acted as Clerk of
the Board. The first to sell goods in the town of Warren was
McCrea Brothers, who sold their wares from a box car, in 1879.
The spring of that same year A. E. Johnson and Ethan Allen
opened up the first general store. The first grain handled in
Warren was in flat houses and handled by A. P. Mclntyre.
The first blacksmith in the town and county was Michael J.
McCann, whose shop stood where Taralseth store is now located.
The size of the building was 30x44. The first bank of the county
was the bank of Warren, which is now merged with the State
Bank. The City Hall.
The present city hall constructed of brick two stories high, the
ground floor of which is occupied by the well equipped fire de-

846 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
partment, with steam engine, two hose carts and hook and ladder
truck, was erected in 1905 at a cost of $7,000. In the rear of the
fire department quarters, is a well equipped city lock-up.
The second floor front, is used as offices by the city officials,
while in the rear of the offices is a public hall, which is also used
as the Council Chambers. In 1891 a volunteer fire department
was organized with J. Bennewitz as chief. In 1894 this depart
ment was reorganized under a city ordinance Avith the present
Mayor, A. B. Nelson as Chief. Fair Grounds.
May 14, 1900, the city purchased a tract of forty-one acres,
in section 31, McCrea township, for $1,253, to be used as a fair
ground and race track. They have erected several good build
ings, well equipped for exhibiting stock and produce and an
amphitheatre which will seat several thousand people. The
race track is considered one of the best half mile tracks in the
Northwest, and during fair week, which is a popular event, the
people come from all sections to view the blooded stock, and
races. One of the picturesque spots of Northern Minnesota is the
Natural Park of Warren, which is located on the bank of the
river, on section one, town 154, range 48. The site was pur
chased by the city of Warren from the firm of Wenzel and
Grindeland for six hundred dollars in 1900.
Warren Incorporated.
The City of Warren was incorporated April 3, 1891. A. L.
Lambeson was the first mayor, and Guy Apudol, August Lund-
gren and William Powell were aldermen ; A. B. Nelson, Recorder ;
K. J. Taralseth, Treasurer ; J. P. Eaton, Justice of the Peace ;
John Keenan and E. Dady, Constables. The city officers for
1909 are : Mayor, A. B. Nelson ; Aldermen, O. H. Taralseth, John
Lundberg, and M. J. Berget; W. N. Powell, City Recorder; L. M.
Olson, City Treasurer. The Justices of the Peace are John
Keenan and W. C. Braggans ; E. Dady, Marshal. ; W. R. Haney,
Superintendent of Light and Power; City Assessor, John West-
man; Street Commissioner, Fred Johnson; City Attorney, A. N.

MARSHALL COUNTY 847
Eekstrom ; Board of Health, Dr. G. S. Wattam, Chairman, August
Lundgren and A. Ayers. Past and Present.
The first attorney at Warren was J. P. Nelson, and the second
A. E. Flint, who was associated with Judge Grindeland for a
time, and afterward became a minister. Julius J. Olson and
Brown and Eekstrom are, 1909, the present law firms. The first
real estate office was owned by James P. Nelson, and the second
by A. P. Mclntyre, who was also agent for the railroad lands.
The first to handle lumber was Johnson and Allen. The first
telegraph operator and agent was E. S. Radcliffe. The first
railroad entrance was by the Great Northern in 1878. The first
drug store was conducted by Whitney and Titus. William H.
Gilbert built the first mill and ground the first flour. The first
physician was Dr. Welch, who was followed by Dr. Beach, and
he by Dr. G. S. Wattam. The first postoffice building was the
Lyons House and the first postmaster was A. T. Minor. The
present postmaster is J. 0. Mattson.
'The State Bank of Warren was organized July 5, 1892, Presi
dent H. Mellgaard ; Vice President, K. J. Taralseth ; Cashier, John
Ostman; Directors, Andrew Grindeland, August Lundgren, K.
J. Taralseth, H. L. Mellgaard, and John Austin. Capital, $25,000 ;
surplus, $5,000. April, 1908, the State Bank purchased the Bank
of Warren, and consolidated the two banks.
The officers now are : President, O. H. Taralseth ; Vice Presi
dent, H. L. Mellgaard ; Cashier, Carl A. Nelson ; Assistant Cashier,
G. A. Juul; Directors, O. H. Taralseth, R. B. Taralseth, Judge
Andrew Grindeland, Carl A. Nelson, H. L. Mellgaard of Argyle.
Comprising present board.
The State Bank of Warren, in connection with their banking
interests conduct an extensive real estate, loan and mortgage
business; also have a complete set of abstract books, and repre
senting several large insurance companies, tornado and fire, and
deal in steamship tickets.
The bank known as the Farmer's State Bank of Alvarado
is a branch of the State Bank of Warren and has a capital of
$10,000.

848 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Swedish-American State Bank. This bank opened for busi
ness on the 12th day of June, 1905, with a capital of $15,000.
Its first board of directors were: C. Wittensten, August Lund
gren, E. Dagoberg, J. Dagoberg, J. Lindberg annd L. M. Olson.
Its first officers were the present ones. The statement of the
bank on April 21st, 1909, reads as follows : Capital, $15,000 ;
surplus and profit, $2,786.29 ; deposits, $110,000 ; total, $127,786.29.
State Bank of Alvarado. This bank opened for business on
the 10th day of October, 1905, with a capital of $10,000. Its
first board of directors were L. M. Olson, John Wolberg, M.
Peterson, J. Dagoberg, and N. S. Hegness. Its first officers were
L. M. Olson, President, and A. A. Johnson, Cashier.
The following year F. E. Dahlgren purchased the interest of
Mr. Hegness and became the cashier of the bank. The state
ment of the bank for April 17th, 1909, reads: Capital, $10,000;
surplus and profit, $2,000; deposits, $60,522.32; total, $72,522.32.
The First National Bank of Warren was organized by Messrs.
F. W. Flanders, W. F. Powell, and H. L. Wood in the summer of
1901, and opened for business July 1st, 1901, with a' capital of
$25,000. The first board of directors was composed of Messrs. W. F.
Powell, C. A. TuUar, C. L. Spaulding, H. M. Swanson, G. O. Cross,
G. C. Winchester, and F. W. Flanders. W. F. Powell, President ;
C. A. TuUar, Vice President; and P. W. Flanders, Cashier.
Under the efficient management of these officers the banks
business rapidly increased, and the bank's success was assured
from the very start.
September 1st, 1904, Mr. Flanders resigned his position of
cashier, and H. L. Wood, the present cashier, was chosen as his
successor. The present board of directors is composed of W. F. Powell,
C. A. TuUar, H. M. Swanson, C. L. Spaulding, H. J. March, J. W.
Bren, and H. L. Wood. The present officers are W. P. Powell,
President ; C. A. TuUar, Vice President ; H. L. Wood, Cashier ; and
George G. Johnson, Assistant Cashier.
The last statement as furnished the Comptroller of the Cur
rency, April 28th, 1909, is as follows :
Resources— Loans, $164,390.72; overdrafts, $546.64; U. S.

R. R. HEDENBERG

MARSHALL COUNTY" 849
bonds, $25,000 ; premium on bonds, $1,000 ; banking house, furni
ture and fixtures, $14,920.67 ; cash on hand, due from banks and
U. S. Treasurer, $44,528.35. Total, $250,386.38.
Liabilities — Capital stock, $25,000; surplus, $10,000; undi
vided profits, $1,691.82; circulation, $25,000; total deposits,
$188,694.56. Total, $250,386.38. Board of Trade.
About fifteen years ago there was organized in the city of
Warren "The Warren Board of Trade." The public spirited-
ness of this organization was clearly demonstrated during the
great wheat blockade of 1895. The elevator companies were
pushing the grade and price so low that the board boldly stepped
into the situation, established an agency for the purpose of buy
ing, aiding and promoting the shipments of grain for the farm
ers, employed men for that purpose and gave their services to
the farmers free of charge. During the first month its agents
handled 108 cars of grain, and upon this grain the farmers
realized from five to eight cents per bushel more than they would
have received had they been compelled to deal with the elevator
companies. The independent shipment of grain was demon
strated to be a success and better treatment from the elevator
companies as to grade and prices was the result.
In the spring of 1900 the "Zenith Social Club" was organized
and the hall in the old court house was rented and fixed up for
the club.
In August, 1903, the members of the Board of Trade and
of the Zenith Club got together and transformed the two organi
zations into the present "Commercial Club," with a membership
of forty-four. Its purpose should be "recreation, physical cul
ture, the promotion of the business interests of the city of
Warren, and good fellowship among its members." Judge
Andrew Grindeland was elected president; Dr. G. S. Wattem,
Vice President; E. M. Sathre, Secretary; and C. A. Nelson,
Treasurer. Its importance in the future may be judged by its
work in the past. Among the things it has done are the fol
lowing :
1st. It secured the Soo Line to be built through Warren.

850 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
2nd. It caused the erection of the Warren Hospital, which
has had a wonderful success and is the pride of the city.
3rd. It organized the Marshall County Fair Association and
established the County Fair.
4th. Through its efforts we now have the Massage Institute,
Steam Laundry, Creamery, North Star College, which is meeting
with success and bids fair to become one of the noted institutions
of learning in the state.
5th. The club has secured farmers' institutes, road conven
tions, assisted in getting the Fire Tournament, established • mar
ket days, and has entertained jobbers, newspapermen, and school
officers. Its annual banquets have in no small measure aroused the
public spirit and helped to get competitors, rivals and persons
of opposite political faith together and join hands to procure
new industries, new settlers and new improvements.
Among the things that the club now seeks to procure for the
city may be mentioned a good hotel building, opera house, a
dairy and marble works. Its present membership is seventy.
Societies.
Friendship Lodge No. 227, I. 0. 0. F. of Warren, Minn., was
instituted May 21, 1895. Its first officers were I. J. McGillan,
N. G.; A. R. Gordon, V. G. ; J. P. Easton, Secretary; 0. G.
Valtinson, Treasurer.
Its present officers are : C. Wittensten, N. G. ; A. L. Robinson,
V. G. ; August A. Johnson, Secretary ; E. 0. Natwick, P. S. ; W.
H. Dixon, Treasurer. Lodge meets every Monday evening.
The Eastern Star Lodge of Warren was organized in 1887,
first officers Annie Farrell, Matron; John Hunter, Patron; Grace
Harris, Assistant Matron; Cora Flanders, Secretary; Clara Brad
ley, Treasurer. Officers in 1909 : Mrs. Grace Powell, Worthy
Matron; Harry Wood, Worthy Patron; Emma Dudly, Assistant
Matron ; Laura Wood, Secretary ; Anna Easton, Treasurer.
Warren Ladies' Reading Circle was re-organized from a
Wednesday Club in 1907. President, Mrs. G. C. Winchester ; Vice
President, Miss J. Wood; Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. C. L.

MARSHALL COUNTY 851
Spaulding. This organization has three-fold object, social, moral
and intellectual. They take up Bay View course of study.
Warren Masonic Lodge. George E. Kennan, Master; Carl A.
Nelson, Senior Warden ; 0. H. Taralseth, Junior Warden ; Henry
L. Wood, Treasurer; W. N. Power, Secretary; C. A. Fuller,
Chaplain; R. B. Taralseth, Senior Steward; A. M. Eekstrom,
Junior Stevrard.
Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No. 2315, A. L. Robinson,
Venerable Council; August Lundgren, Adviser; Carl A. Nelson,
Banker; W. N. Powell, Clerk. Amount paid out in this lodge,
about $1,300.
"The Warren Register" was established in March, 1887, by
Thomas F. SteA-ens, who Avas then and for some years had been
one of the town and county's leading attorneys at law. The
"Register" started as a six-column folio paper, but within three
months was enlarged to six pages. At the beginning of 1888
its form was changed to that of an eight-column folio. About
ten years later it became a six-column quarto, as at present. Two
or three years after that, it discarded ready prints and since
then has been an all home-print paper. In the fall of 1894,
the plant was purchased from the founder by his sons, Charles
L. and EdAvard F. Stevens, who have ever since conducted the
paper, under the firm name of Stevens Brothers.
The demand for a true blue Republican paper in Marshall
county had much to do with the establishment of the "Register,"
which for more than twenty years has never failed to uphold the
principles and advocate the adoption of the policies of the Re
publican Party — a record, by the way, of which no other paper
in Marshall county can boast. The "Register" has always been
firm and outspoken in its opposition to political jobbery of every
kind and a steadfast champion of the square deal. It has ever
been an earnest supporter of whatever it conceived to be for the
best interests of its town and community and has never wavered
in its belief that Warren's future is destined to be a great and
prosperous one.
The "Register" began business with a very modest outfit,
but it has today one of the most complete and up-to-date news
paper and job printing plants in the Red River valley. Its

852 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
growth in circulation, influence and patronage has kept pace with
the growth of the city and county in wealth and population. Its
present editor, C. L. Stevens, is a lawyer by profession, but
devotes practically all his time to his editorial duties.
The building in which the "Register" has its home was
erected in 1903, by Stevens Brothers. It is a handsome brick
structure designed and constructed solely with a view to its
being used by them as a printing office.
Churches Warren.
History of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This church was
organized in the fall of 1879, when Warren was in its infancy.
First to preach in Warren was a Baptist, next came the Congre-
gationalist minister who preached for a short period in the spring
and summer of 1879. Some of the Methodist brethren not con
tent with sermons read off like a book, prayed that God would
send them a Methodist minister.
One Methodist minister by name of Samuel Kerfoot was
then preaching at Crookston; he was from Emerson, Manitoba,
a good friend of the Craig family, pioneers of Warren. Two of
the Craig brothers at the solicitation of Mr. Gilbert, another
pioneer, went to Crookston, and returned with Rev. Kerfoot.
After a short visit with the Craig family, whom he knew in
Ontario, Mr. Kerfoot returned to Emerson, Manitoba. Soon
after he received a letter from Messrs. Craig and Davies urging
him to come to Warren and open up the work. With the consent
of the Presiding Elder, Rev. Mr. Sharkey, he accepted the call
and preached his first sermon November, 1879. There were no
public buildings in the village. First Methodist service was held
in the bar room of the Commercial Hotel, the building which now
forms a part of the Lyon's House, at that time conducted by
A. T. Minor ; no liquor was then sold there. That day with a bar
for a pulpit, Rev. Kerfoot preached an earnest sermon and
touched the hearts of his hearers. Next service was held in the
law office of J. P. Nelson, then located south of Edward Slee's
store, and afterwards across the track near the site now occupied
by Berget's Photograph Gallery. The audience had only nail
kegs and plank for pews. The early members were Mr. and Mrs.

MARSHALL COUNTY 853
Snyder, Mr. and Mrs. Bennewitz, Mr. and Mrs. Craig, Mr. and
Mrs. Wenzel, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. T. R.
Davies. Services were conducted in Judge Nelson's office, fall
of 1879, and part of following winter, but before spring, the
office was too small and services were conducted at the court
house, which stood west of the present county building; the
congregation increased so rapidly and had outgrown the court
house, but by this time the first school house was built. Will
Gilbert had the contract of its erection, a building 20x40. The
Methodists worshipped in this school until their church was built.
Spring, 1882, they decided to build their edifice through Messrs.
Campbell, Mentzer, Gilbert and others who proved zealous work
ers for the cause.
A subscription of $1,700 was raised and in the fall of '82 the
structure was begun, but not finished until the fall of 1883,
November 25th, that year ready for dedication.
Presiding Elder George R. Hair was present and preached
in the afternoon. Rev. Frank Doran preached the dedicatory
sermon in the evening. His subject was the "Life and Character
of Stephen." The services were a complete success and within
twenty minutes the church debt was entirely liquidated, except
ing the $500 that was owing the Church Extension Society.
It was self-sacrifice those pioneer days. After the building had
been completed, little was done towards improvement until the
fall of 1897, when the building was moved from the block just
south of the school house to its present location, moving it, etc.,
cost in all $1,700. Original building committee could not com
plete it ton first location as owner of lots refused to sell for that
purpose. It is an ornament to the city of Warren, and one of
the nicest in this part of the state. People have given liberally.
One thing that will always be remembered in the hearts of the
Methodists is the prompt and speedy action of Warren Fire De
partment for saving the church from destruction by fire, March
27th, 1898.
The pastors of Warren were as follows : 1st, Rev. S. Kerfoot,
an earnest and zealous worker; 2nd, Rev. C. B. Brecount, who
in the spring of '80 supplied the place, driving from Fisher and
Mallory as often as he could; 3rd, Rev. A. E. Flint, assisted by

854 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Mrs. Campbell, the church was finally completed and opened for
services; 4th, Rev. T. F. Allen, who was noted for his ringing
voice, was a great and strong preacher. During his two years'
stay seventy-eight people were received into the church on pro
bation, eighteen by letter; 5th, Rev. J. W. Briggs; 6th, E. W.
Simmonds ; 7th, Dr. Green ; 8th, I. P. Davidson ; 9th, S. Z. Kauf
man ; 10th, S. S. Parley ; 11th, C. B. Brecount ; 12th, J. M. Brown ;
13th, Thomas Billing; 14th, E. F. Spicer.
The Ladies' Aid Society has been the backbone of the church,
not a year has passed since the church was organized but they
have raised several hundred dollars.
At the annual conference in October, 1899, Rev. W. E. Loomis
was appointed as pastor of the church. The next October, 1900,
he Avas followed by Rev. M. L. Hutton, who remained until
July, 1901. Rev. A. H. McKee arrived in August and was in
charge until October, 1902. Then came Rev. Isaac Pearl, who
stayed one year.
Rev. G. E. Lindall succeeded, and his pastorate extended for
four years. The present pastor, Rev. A. A. Myers, has been here
since October, 1907. The trustee board as now constituted is :
Harry L. Wood, John W. Thomas, Riley E. Keyar, Homer A.
Tyler, Edward Sommers, Ernest L. Brown, George Pfister.
The treasurer is Harry L. Wood.
The superintendent of the Sunday school is John W. Thomas.
The present president of the Ladies' Aid Society is Mrs. E. L.
Brown. Many AA7ho have gone from this church are now doing valua
ble work in Colorado and other parts of the country, while new
comers, largely from Illinois, are taking their places; thus does
the church move on in her beneficent mission.
First Presbyterian Church was organized February 26th,
1882, with eight members, Mrs. Margaret Main, Mrs. Maggie J.
Duffenbaugh, Mrs. Louise Bennewitz and Mrs. Fanny Brown
received on confession of their faith in Christ. James H. Hug-
gard, William S. Brown, Susan M. Huggard, Charles H. Brown.
Rotary system of eldership. First ruling at that date were
James H. Huggard, William S. Brown, J. P. Sehell, moderater.
September 30th, 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Bullis joined

MARSHALL COUNTY 855
by letter. Rev. Schell conducted service every two weeks until
October 1st, 1882.
Succession of pastors as follows : Rev. H. M. Dyckman,
October 1st, 1882; under this minister November 5th, 1882, the
first Sabbath school was organized. Ed Mclntyre, first superin
tendent. A. E. Franklin, assistant. November 14th, 1882, the
Presbytery of Pembina was organized and the first Presbyterian
Church of Warren was enrolled. December 9th, 1882, a meeting
was held and the following members were received and elected
elders : William Ellory Thomas and his wife, Alfred Thomas,
Mrs. Celia Thomas, Edwin R. Ross and Laura, his wife, Albert P.
Frank and his wife Helen, Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Falwell, Mrs.
Laurelle Peck. Ruling elders : William E. Thomas, Edwin R.
Ross. On December 10th, 1882, the following elders were elected,
ordained, and installed : Mrs. E. Thomas, Edwin R. Ross, William
S. Brown, James H. Huggard. The sacrament of the Lord's
Supper was then administered; first regular session on December
17th, 1882, Avas opened by Elder Thomas leading in prayer; Rev.
H. M. Dyckman was elected as clerk of the session. The elders
urged to establish family altars in their homes, and to persuade
the members to do likewise. The subject of visitation of families
was also discussed.
January 2nd, 1883, a meeting of the session at the room of the
Rev. H. N. Dyckman was opened by Elder Ross. The object of
the meeting was the changing of the method of meeting at a
stated place holding the meetings from house to house. A reso
lution was adopted expressing sympathy and promising coopera
tion in temperance work, recently begun. Brothers Thomas and
Ross were duly appointed to wait upon the brethren of the M. E.
church to arrange for one union temperance service on one Sab
bath of the month, approved by the Presbytery Grafton, April 4th,
1883. The first special service was held February 6th, 1884. On
March 4th, 1884, the annual meeting for the election of elders
was held at Warren House. Albert P. Frank was the unanimous
choice for election. He has served as clerk ever since 1886, and
is still in office in 1909.
September 7th, 1884. Pastors of the church: 1st, Rev. J. P.

856 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY"
Schell; 2nd, Rev. H. M. Dyckman; 3rd, Rev. Augustus Carver,
installed April 7, 1885 ; 4th, Rev. McCalltioner ; September 24th,
Elder Frank elected moderator for that session; 5th, John Mc
Arthur; 6th, John Fraser; 7th, C. D. Darling; 8th, D. A. Fahl;
9th, Rev. P. P. M. Clark ; 10th, Rev. Ralph F. Fulton ; 11th, Rev.
Grant Stroh in 1909, the present pastor.
The first Presbyterian Church Ladies' Aid Society was or
ganized January, 1883. First President, Mrs. Albert P. Mclntyre ;
Secretary, Mrs. S. B. Beach; Treasurer, Mrs. E. R. Ross; the
officers for 1909 are : President, Mrs. Albert P. Mclntyre ; First
^iee President, Mrs. L. Lambersen; Second Vice President, Mrs.
Kuisgard; Secretary, Mrs. J. P. Easton; Treasurer, Mrs. D.
Farrell; Mrs. Albert was president of the society three times.
In 1907 nearly $800 was collected and in 1908 nearly $400,
all by giving dinners, tea parties and bazaars ; they have paid
$1,000 toward the parsonage and $15 per month toward the
pastor's salary. This church is now self-supporting.
Ladies' Missionary Society. Organized July 1st, 1884; Presi
dent, Mrs. A. P. Frank ; Secretary, W. R. Edwards ; Treasurer,
1909, Mrs. Wilbur Powell, Secretary.
Home Missionary Society. Object: to educate one colored
girl in Ingleside Seminary (colored), at Burkeville, Va. ; to re
ceive Christian education and industrial training. Some have
graduated as teachers and are now teaching their own country
men. 1908, made five graduates. The second object of the society
is to educate the mountain whites in the Industrial School at
Asheville, North Carolina. To illustrate the workings of the
society: Total receipts, $58.77; dues and donations, $31.70;
contingent, $7.50; special Lincoln services, $18.55; balance from
1907, $1.02; total, $58.77. Total home missions, $28.05; total
foreign missions, $28.75 ; balance on hand March 17, 1909, $1.97.
Swedish Mission Church. In July, 1882, a few Mission friends
got together for the purpose of organizing a Swedish Mission con
gregation. In the fall of the same year it was decided to build a
church so that they would have a place where they could hold
services. This church, which was thirty-two feet each way, was
begun in the fall and finished the next spring.

MARSHALL COUNTY 857
The church was incorporated September 15, 1883, with the
following officers : E. Holmgren, President ; C. J. Pihlstrom, Vice
President ; L. W. Peterson, P. A. Pealstrom, F. Franson, E. Holm
gren, J. Peterson, C. J. Pihlstrom as trustees.
Until 1885 the services were conducted by members of the
congregation. In 1885 Rev. P. F. Mostrom was called to hold
services one Sunday in each month. Four other mmisters have
served the church since then in the following order: P. M.
Samuelson, A. Tornell, 0. Lundell and Charles A. Jacobson.
The last named is the present pastor.
The membership at the time of organization was about fifteen.
The present membership is thirty-one. The Sunday school en
rollment is about eighty children. The average attendance at
the preaching services ranges from seventy-five to a hundred.
Last year improvements were made on the church property
to the amount of $1,600, which makes the whole property worth
in the neighborhood of $4,500.
The present officers are as follows: J. Odman, President; C.
J. Pihlstrom, Vice President; F. Franson, Secretary; L. West-
man, Treasurer ; M. L. Larson, A. Skoog and J. Odman, Trustees.
The United Lutheran Church, originally Synod Church, was
temporarily organized in an informal way, by H. B. Hanson,
lay preacher, tailor by trade, he was ordained by the Hauges
Synod. In 1885, Rev. A. C. Anderson came.
Knute Nelson donated $100 in 1882, but this sum was not
collected until the church was built in 1886.
The constitution was organized by the synod in 1885. K. J.
Taralseth, deceased; John L. Olson, Judge Andrew Grindeland,
Peter O. Blosness, H. H. Brotorp, H. I. Golden, Chris Johnson,
were the first organizers.
First to conduct a Lutheran Sunday school in Warren was
Ingebrud Bjorseth. Warren was a missionary station in early
days and was served by Rev. Anderson from Fisher in 1885. Rev.
Halver Roalkval from Crookston was the second. When Rev.
Halver Roalkval received a call to preach, he was a professor of
the Lutheran College at Decorah, Iowa. He continued with this
church in Warren until 1890, when the church was united to the

858 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
United Lutheran Church of America. He is now in Coon Valley,
Wis. Rev. Roalkval handed in his resignation on account of lack
of members to pay salary. A special meeting was called on July
4th, 1889, for the election of a new pastor, and Rev. Urness was
chosen. Rev. J. A. Urness succeeded Rev. Roalkval, on the 29th of
May, 1890, and served until in 1892. Rev. Skuness from June,
1895, until in June, 1901. From 1901 until 1904, Rev. N. Kile
acted as minister. From October, 1904, until July, 1905, they
were without a minister. Rev. C. J. Nolstad came and completed
the work as minister in May, 1905.
The church was dedicated July 19th, 1908, and a baby, Effie
Knutson, daughter of the recording secretary, C. Knutson, was
baptized the same day. The cause of the dedication was re
modeling and rebuilding of church 48x24 in size.
April 12th, 1885, a conference was held in the First Swedish
Lutheran church, frame building (old schoolhouse).
In reference to finances Andrew Grindeland acted as presi
dent. Secretary was Chris Johnson.
January 17th, 1886, the year of incorporation under the laws
of the state was given the name of Norwegian Lutheran Church.
Andrew Grindeland, President; K. J. Taralseth, Trustee; Peter
Blosness, Trustee; and original board at the time of the organi
zation of the constitution in 1885.
In November, 1886, at a business session, they decided to
build their church 34 by 24. The Sewing Society purchased the
lot. The Building Committee were as follows : Peter Blosness,
A. Grindeland, K. J. Taralseth, L. Ledmell.
The interior was all newly decorated, a new pulpit was
erected, capacity of the church about twenty families.
Officers of 1909 were as follows : Recording Secretary, Cor
nelius Knutson; Trustees, John L. Olson, John Iverson, Ralph
Taralseth ; Financial Secretary, J. S. Hillebue.
Scandinavian Methodist Church of Warren, Marshall county,
was organized in 1885, by the Rev. D. M. Hegland, Rev. J. John
son, presiding elders. Charter members as follows: C. Eklund,
H. I. Golden, G. Runquist, A. Anderson and wife, Mrs. L. M.
Johnson. First services were held in city hall. In 1909 there

MARSHALL COUNTY 859
were seven families in this congregation under charge of the
present pastor, Rev. Ryning.
Synod Church was organized temporarily about 1901 by Rev.
A. G. Quammen of Crookston at that time. The permanent
organization was effected in March, 1905, dedicated in February,
1908, by Rev. J. W. Preus of Minneapolis, assisted by a number
of other brothers. Church now Lutheran Trinity Church. Rev.
A. G. Quammen delivered an address. Rev. J. W. Preus de
livered the dedicatory sermon, the chosen text being 1st Kings,
verses 8-12-13. His sermon was an able one.
The church is frame and built on a foundation of artificial
stone, size 42 by 34 feet. The style is Gothic. The altar and
pulpit are of quarter-sawed oak and pews also, with handsome
steel ceiling.
The altar is the work of the Norwegian painter, H. Gausta of
Minneapolis, and represents Christ praying in the Garden of
Gethsemane at the moment when the Angel appears to strengthen
him. This work of art is a present to the congregation from
Judge Andrew Grindeland; also the giver of a beautiful organ.
Probate Judge P. H. Holm presented a beautiful communion set.
This edifice cost $4,500. The pastors who have served are as
follows: Rev. A. G. Quammen, Rev. O. Amdalsrud, Rev. T. L.
Rosholdt, Rev. Adolph Salveson, Rev. E. Hansen.
Through the two zealous workers, Judge A. Grindeland and
his wife, this new building has been erected.
The present officers are: O. A. Ford, Secretary; Charles E.
Grinder, Treasurer ; Judge A. Grindeland, G. A. Juul, and W. E.
Valtinson, Trustees. John M. Halvorson, Bennie Valtinson, and
Ingolf Grindeland, Ushers.

CHAPTER XXXIX.
POLK COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
By
Hon. William Watts.
The County of Polk, Minnesota, when first established, ex
tended from Red River on the west to Lake Itasca and the
Mississippi River on the east, and from a line extending due
east from the mouth of Turtle River on the north to the line
between townships one hundred and forty-two and one hundred
and forty-three on the south. By legislative act in the year
1866, all east of the line between ranges thirty-eight and thirty-
nine was taken to form part of the new county of Beltrami.
In 1881 Norman county was created by taking the four southern
tiers of townships from the county of Polk, and in 1897 the
county of Red Lake was organized by taking twenty-four full
and seven fractional townships in a somewhat irregular form
from its northeast part, leaving Polk county in its main part
forty-six and two-fifths miles from north to south, and about
thirty miles from west to east, with a farther projection east of
the southern part for thirty miles, and containing an area of
1946 square miles.
This territory is for the most part quite level and in its
natural state mainly prairie land. Its southeastern part how
ever, forms part of the park region of Minnesota, with all the
characteristics of that attractive portion of the state, its rolling
surface, numerous groves, and large bodies of timber mainly oak,
elm, ash, basswood, cottonwood, and poplar. In one part, on the
south shore of Maple Lake, once stood a large number of sugar
maple, to which the Indians came in the season for it, to make
860

POLK COUNTY 861
the SAveetest of all delicacies, sugar from the maple tree, but we
regret to tell that most of these have been cut for fuel, and the
charm of that forest has been much diminished. However, young
maples are growing up thickly, and if properly cared for the
sylvan charm will be largely restored. This portion has also
many hills, the highest being along the Sand Hill river, near
the south line, some of them reaching an elevation of eighty
feet above the surrounding plain. It has also many beautiful
lakes, the largest of which Maple Lake, named after the forest
trees, which so largely lined its shore, is about seven miles long
and one and a half miles wide, at its widest part. It has become
much frequented as a summer resort, and a considerable village
of cottages, and fine buildings have been erected upon it for
occupancy in the summer season.
The general course of the streams in the county is from east
to. west. The most important is Red Lake river, which is the
outlet of Red Lake, the largest body of fresh water wholly
within the United States except Lake Michigan and carries
more water than the Red River above their point of union at
Grand Forks. It is sinuous in its course being three times the
distance by river from source to mouth that it would be by direct
line. Only one of its fine water powers is improved in Polk
county, being the one in the city of Crookston, but several are
in use farther up the stream. Along its shores was a fine body
of timber, averaging about two-thirds of a mile wide, consisting
mostly of oak, elm, ash, basswood, cottonwood and poplar timber,
much of which has been manufactured into lumber and other
building material, little being left that is valuable for these
purposes. What remains is valuable for fuel and fencing pur
poses and adds greatly to the beauty of the region in which it
stands. The waters of Red Lake river derive a reddish tinge
from large tamarack swamps near its head and this strongly tints
the waters of Red River below the point of confluence, and gives
to it its name, the "Red." It abounds in fish in the spring
season, and below the dam at Crookston it has been no uncom
mon sight to see wagon loads fished out in a short time with
dip nets. The kinds taken are mostly pike, pickerel, catfish,
skipjacks, and suckers. In past years large numbers of stur-

862 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
geon also came up the stream and one taken at Crookston was
of the great weight of 148- pounds, but these are not often seen
in later years. The only other considerable streams in the county
are the Sand Hill and Clearwater. The first takes its rise in the
southeastern part of the county, and flows nearly west. Along
its upper part is considerable timber, but the lower half of its
course is through prairie. It has some good water powers, three
of which, one at Climax, and two at Fertile, are improved, and
used to run flouring mills. It is also a good fishing stream.
The Clearwater is a smaller river, rising also in the south
eastern part of the county, and running northwest to join Red
Lake river at Red Lake Falls, the county seat of the new ad
joining county. Its course is through a rolling country mostly
prairie, but having considerable timber along portions of its
course. Along Red River in this county, and particularly upon the
somewhat acute angle made by the junction of Red and Red
Lake rivers, stood a large body of fine timber, almost like the
forests of the east. This has been largely cut down, but suffi
cient still stands to make the timber country a pleasing contrast
with the adjoining prairie.
Before the advent of the permanent settler in this county, it
was the grazing ground of great herds of the buffalo, whose bones
were thickly scattered over the ground until the last of the
seventies; when some one conceived the idea of grinding them
for fertilizing purposes, and many carloads were gathered and
shipped east for that purpose and soon but few remained.
Early Settlement.
Though the old Pembina trail, the route by which the Hudson
Bay Company carried its furs and merchandise between the
Northwest and St. Paul in the early days, passed through Polk
county, that company had no trading post within its borders.
The United States Census of 1870 returns "no population" in
the county, though doubtless there were a few people of mostly
Indian blood along the Red River. The year of 1871 was the
beginning of permanent settlement. In that year came from
southeastern Minnesota some Norwegian families who settled

POLK COUNTY 863
along the Red River and near it, in what are now the towns of
Hubbard, Vineland, Tynsid and Bygland. Farther north at
and near the place where the Red Lake river joins the Red and
along the Marais, at this time also came a considerable number
of Scotch and Canadian people, who had been attracted by ac
counts of the lower part of the valley in the Dominion of Canada,
but finding the desirable lands there already taken or reserved
returned to this place, one of the garden spots of the Northwest,
to make fine homes for themselves and their families. A line
of boats had been established by Norman Kittson plying the
waters of the river between Moorhead and Winnipeg and upon
them most of these settlers reached their new homes. Among
those who came thus, and made the deepest impression upon the
future of the county were Robert Coulter, John Coulter and
William Fleming.
The next body of settlers came in the spring of 1872, to and
around the place where the city of Crookston now stands with
the survey and building of the St. Vincent extension of the St.
Paul and Pacific Railway from Glyndon on the Northern Pacific
Railroad to the Snake river where is now the city of Warren.
It was quite evident that a city would arise where the railroad
crossed the Red Lake river, and when the line was located at
the present crossing the engineers who had the first knowledge
where it would be, made pre-emption filings upon most of the
lands about it. As they made but slight improvement or resi
dence their claims were for the most part contested and canceled.
William H. Stuart succeeded in getting title to what is platted
as the original townsite of Crookston. Robert Houston got what
is Fletcher & Houston's Addition, L. Fletcher's Addition and A.
C. Loring 's Addition. Other parts of the city were obtained by
Ellery C. Davis, Bernard Sampson, Mary Carlton, John Darkow,
Joseph Barrett and Reuben Reynolds, from the United States
government, as subject to entry under the land laws of the
United States. Some expecting the railroad crossing would be
a short distance down the river from where the village of Fisher
is, had located there but moved up stream when they found the
place of crossing fixed.
There was no colony plan in this settlement, each came by

864 HISTORY OF RED RIVER V ALLEY"
himself except in the few cases of families. The railroad line
survey in 1871 was constructed from Glyndon to Snake River
in 1872 and while it was building, Crookston was a collection of
busy houses located in the woods along the railroad line, and
hope was high that good times were in the near future. But
their prosperity was delayed by the financial crisis of 1873.
Building the railway ceased, and its operation almost ceased
until the fall of the year 1875, at which time part of the rails
north of Crookston were taken up and used to turn the line to
Fisher's Landing, to which point the river was more easily navi
gated by the river boats which then carried on a large traffic on
the Red and Red Lake rivers. Previous to this time from the
year 1872 when the steamers Selkerk and International the larg
est vessels that have ever navigated the Red River came up to
Crookston and discharged their cargoes there, until the railway
was extended to Fisher's Landing, the boats of the Kittson line
steamed up to the Crookston landing on the right bank of Red
Lake river close to where now stands the passenger depot of
the Great Northern Railroad Company.
The life of the pioneers of this time is described by one of
them as "being a pretty good time after all. Most of the people
were young and full of the bubbling happiness that goes with
youth. Dancing parties were frequent, and the long winter even
ings were much relieved in Crookston by amateur theatricals.
Enoch H. Shaw, who had been a school teacher and was then in
the employ of the railroad company looking after their lands was
the principal manager and Mrs. Evalyn Houston was the star
actress. Much interest was taken and quite a number were found
who could 'take a part' very well. The old railroad depot was
utilized as the theatre, by permission of Delos Jacobs, who was the
first station agent. A debating and literary society held its
meetings in the old school house in Crookston. Among the lead
ing speakers in this was James Greenhalgh, Sr., one of the earliest
pioneers, who came with a large family and settled near Crook
ston where he died in 1898, at the age of seventy-two years."
Edmund M. Walsh was postmaster at Crookston from 1872
when the office was established until 1884. He was born in
Essex county, New York, March 2, 1851. In 1857 he removed

POLK COUNTY" 865
with his parents, Thomas and Elenor Walsh, to Henderson, Sib
ley county, Minnesota, and remained in the state ever since.
He greAV to manhood in that place and there received his edu
cation, and in 1870 took charge of his father's mercantile
business, which he later closed out and then started for himself.
He went to Ft. Garry (now Winnipeg) for a time and then to
Grand Forks, North Dakota, and then to Crookston in 1872.
From 1880 to 1884 he was sole proprietor of a general merchan
dise business, and in 1890 engaged in the real estate business
and is still an extensive dealer.
He bought a farm originally owned by Joseph Barrette and
laid it out in a plat known as Highland Park and Walsh's Addi
tion. In laying out Highland Park, he donated enough land for
a park and this was the first park in the city of Crookston. He
organized the old Crookston Telephone Company in 1878 and was
its manager. From 1872 to 1875 he served as the first County
Auditor and in 1885 was elected Mayor of the city, and served
two subsequent terms, and in 1886 Clerk of District court,
and was on the first Council of the city, and school board about
fourteen years. He was made a Mason in 1880 and elected a
Knights Templar in Palestine Temple No. 14, in Fergus Falls,
in 1886. He tells this of Crookston 's early history: "After railroad
building ceased in 1872, occasionally an engine and car were
run up. The mode of transportation was by boat, but the rail
road company had left two pairs of railroad trucks and the
people here built a platform on them and attaching sails used
them in making trips down to Glyndon, bringing back supplies.
There were about twenty tar shanties in the hamlet from 1872
to 1875. The U. S. Mail was brought from Grand Forks by who
ever happened to be there at the time. It came in about once
a week but sometimes only once a month, until 1875. I was the
first postmaster receiving my appointment in the fall of 1872;
first salary was tAvelve dollars a year, but it reached eighteen
hundred a year when I resigned; my first office was in a tin and
hardware store about fourteen by twenty feet and made of
boards and tar paper, same being the first store of that kind in
Crookston. The post office Avas a little box about fourteen inches

866 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
wide and two feet long and continued that way until the first
post office case was brought in in 1878. In 1872 there Avere a
couple of saloons and "Bill" Stuart kept a boarding house, E.
C. Davis kept a supply store in a tar shanty. Bruns and Finkle
who owned a large store at Moorehead came and erected a frame
store and put in William M. Ross as manager. Ross and Walsh
bought out this store in the spring of 1874. Population in 1872
was about fifty people after the railroad ceased operations. In
1872 Lariviere had an Indian trading store and traded with the
Indians but was closed up by United States officers for selling
liquor to them. The majority of the population at that time
were French, some Americans and some Scandinavians."
County and Town Organization.
By act of the legislature approved March 3rd, 1873, Polk
county Avas declared to be a legally organized county, and some
previous unauthorized proceedings were legalized. On October
21, 1872, William M. Ross, and Jacob Myers, acting as county
commissioners divided the county including what is now Nor
man and Red Lake counties into three commissioners districts.
Edmund M. Walsh acted as the first county auditor at this time
and on December 6th, 1872, Richard J. Reis Avas appointed the
first superintendent of schools of the county. On January 7,
1873, qualified as county officers, Henry Shepard, justice of the
peace ; Richard E. Hussey, surveyor ; B. E. Haney, justice of the
peace. E. M. Walsh, auditor; W. M. Ross, treasurer; Thomas
M. Jenkins, sheriff; Jacob Meyers, register of deeds; D. G.
Wilkins coroner, and W. G. Woodruff county attorney. At this
time E. C. Davis, Jaines Jenks and Lars H. Gordon were county
commissioners, Davis being chairman. The act of legislature
organizing the county legalized the election of these officers with
out which their election would have been invalid as to all except
the county commissioners, no county until organized by legisla
tive act being entitled to any officers other than three county
commissioners. On May 25, 1873, W. C. Nash became court com
missioner and C. G. Spendley judge of probate, they being the
first to hold these offices in this county. At the same time D. G.
Wilkins was granted a renewal of license to maintain a ferry

POLK COUNTY 867
across Red Lake river. This ferry wa's operated about 800 feet
above the railroad bridge at the place called Crookston. It was
constructed in the usual Red river fashion, a rope cable stretched
across the river tied to trees, the ferry boat being down stream,
attached to pulleys which ran upon the rope. When crossing, the
front end of the boat was drawn near the cable and hind end
permitted to go farther away ; when the current of the river pro
pelled it across. As the river was not fordable at most seasons
of the year, the ferry was the means of crossing when ice would
not bear the traffic, and this continued until the fall of 1879,
when the first public bridge was built close north of the ferry
across the Red Lake river. Not a few of the people at that time
thought the ferry quite good and the expense of a bridge unwar
ranted. The rates were fifty cents for four horse, ox or mule
team, twenty-five cents for two horse, ox or mule team, fifteen
cents for one horse, ox or mule, five cents per head for loose
stock and ten cents for foot passengers. In June, 1873, R. E.
Hussey became the first clerk of district court. Polk county was
at that time attached to the county of Becker for judicial pur
poses, and doubt existed as to whether there was legally such an
office in a county so attached, but the supreme court has decided
that question in the affirmative. There was but little district
court litigation then, and the fact that court was held so far
away as Detroit, the county seat of Becker county, mattered little
to them. Far more important was it that the United States land
office for this district was also located there and land contests were
numerous and expensive.
The first township to be organized in the county was Hunts-
ville, on March 17, 1874. Crookston followed, on March 28, 1876,
and Vineland, Red Lake Falls and Fisher's Landing (now Fisher)
in the same year. Bygland, Lowell and Andover were organized
in 1877, Farley in 1878, Tynsid, Higdem, Roome, Angus, Euclid,
Gentilly and Fairfax in 1879; Sullivan, Reis, Garfield, Grove
Park, Fanny, Hammond, Nesbit, Brislet, Liberty and Belgium in
1880 ; Kertsonville, Keystone, Garden and Godfrey in 1881 ; and
Grand Forks, Tilden, Woodside, Sandsville, Russia, Hubbard and
Onstad in 1882. Crookston, so named in honor of Colonel Will
iam Crooks, of St. Paul, chief engineer in locating the railway

868 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
line from Glyndon to St. Vincent, was first given to the postoffice,
next to the township of that name, and in 1879 to the city, when
it was created under special act of the legislature. This place
was not named or recognized by any legislative act as the county
seat of Polk county until February, 1879, and it was only main
tained as such by the board of county commissioners so recogniz
ing it prior to that time. Mention has been made of the iron
rails being taken up north of Crookston in the fall of 1875 and
used to extend the railway twelve miles down the river to a
point named Fisher's Landing, which then became the head of
steamboat navigation. It soon became a bustling and prosperous
collection of buildings maintained mostly by the then increasing
immigration from eastern Canada to the new province of Mani
toba that changed there from rail to boat and boat to rail, and
the freight traffic caused by it. A considerable portion of the
residents of Crookston moved down river to "the end of the
line," and it soon surpassed the latter place in population and
business. Among those who changed residence was Mrs. Anna
Lachapelle, who had moved from St. Paul and built and kept the
first hotel in Crookston; Paschal Lachapelle, formerly a fur
trader; Henry Shepard, well versed in justice court practice and
procedure and for a long time the principal justice in the county ;
B. F. Zarracher, a veteran soldier of the Civil War, who was
afterwards sheriff, and Hugh Thompson, who soon became the
leading merchant of the neAV town and has since been one of the
most prominent men of the county in politics as well as in busi
ness. Being without municipal organization it is not surprising
that it soon developed some of the wilder characteristics of the
frontier town, liquor traffic and gambling, wide open, in 1876 and
'77, and carousing and fighting galore. All this was built up on
a rather low point a little to the south and west of the present
village of Fisher, and the scene of so much activity by land and
water in the summer seasons some thirty odd years ago has
changed to an unpretentious cow pasture.
Population.
There Avas little if any increase in the population of the county
from 1872 to June, 1875, when the state census Avas taken and

WILLIAM C. NASH

POLK COUNTY 869
returned for it a population of 937, of which about two-thirds
were within the limits of the present Polk county. It was a much
mixed population, the Norwegians being the most numerous.
Though the prairie land Avas easily brought under cultivation the
farmers had little under crop, except of some of those in what was
called the "Marais" region, where they were more enterprising
and raised large quantities of wheat and other grains, much of
which was carried on barges towed up the Red river to the rail
road at Moorhead, or down to Winnipeg.
During this period, from 1873 to 1877, which old settlers des
ignate as "the hard times," when the St. Paul & Pacific railroad
was in the hands of a receiver who had no money to extend it
and little with which to operate, and the St. Vincent branch could
only be used in connection with the Northern Pacific at rates
which left little or no profit in its operation, and population was
at a standstill, not a few showed faith in the country and enter
prising spirit. Among these were :
Ellery C. Davis, born in Massachusetts in 1837, a veteran sol
dier of the Civil War, reaching the rank of major, and a civil
engineer by profession, was one of the first settlers, taking as
government land a quarter section, part of which is now Davis'
addition to Crookston. He was a quite extensive railroad con
tractor, was always very public-spirited, long held county and
city offices. He was the first mayor of the city of Crookston,
which office he has since held several times and longer than any
other person.
Bernhard Sampson, who settled upon and still lives on his fine
farm adjoining the city of Crookston, was born in Norway in
1839, came to the Red River valley in 1869, was railroad con
tractor on the St. Vincent extension, and later built the line from
Crookston to Fisher's Landing. He has been clerk of district
court and member of the house of representatives and senate of
Minnesota, and always active in the public interests.
Walter D. Bailey, a veteran of the Civil War, chairman of
the board of county commissioners and the leading merchant of
Crookston until 1878, was a native of Wisconsin.
Robert Houston was born in Prince Edward Island, Canada,
m 1841. He acquired title from the government, after a long

870 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
contest, to part of the land on whieh the city of Crookston now
stands. He was enterprising in building up the city in its early
days, but later removed to the west, where he still resides.
Kelsey D. Chase, a soldier of the Civil War, came to Crookston
in 1874 and engaged in farming and contracting. He had con
siderable ability as a promoter. He built the Crookston dam and
part of the waterworks system, and organized the Crookston
Water Power and Electric Light Company, and later engaged in
railroad building from Duluth to the iron range, making a hand
some fortune. He is now a resident of Faribault, Minn.
Space will not permit the mention of others who were active
factors in the early development. We cannot leave however
without mention of Richard E. Hussey. He was born in Penn
sylvania in 1838, came west early, locating in Crookston in 1872,
and was clerk of court and county surveyor. He had a remark
able talent for the narration of extemporaneous fiction of the
humorous and witty style. He went west in the later eighties,
where he died, but his amusing conA7ersation will long be a mem
ory in the valley of the Red. Immigration.
In the summer of 1877 immigration, which had been nearly at
a standstill, was revived. The St. Paul & Pacific Railway Com
pany, under the control of Jesse Farley, receiver, began to make
diligent efforts to get farmers upon their lands obtained by grant
from the government for the construction of the railroad. The
lands were granted in March, 1857, by act of congress to the ter
ritory of Minnesota or future state, "for the purpose of aiding in
the construction of railroads from Stillwater by way of St. Paul
and St. Anthony to a point between the foot of Big Stone lake
and the mouth of Sioux Wood river, with a branch via St. Cloud
and Crow Wing to the navigable waters of the Red River of the
North at such point as the legislature may determine." Under
various legislative acts of the territory and state of Minnesota,
this railway company had acquired title to these lands. Whether
it had title was in doubt and dispute until the case of Nash vs.
Sullivan was decided by the Minnesota Supreme Court in June,
1882, and this question was from the first one of the most impor-

POLK COUNTY 871
tant, and most considered and discussed in the county. The
lands acquired by the railroad company under the grant were
"every alternate section designated by odd numbers, for six sec
tions in width on each side of said roads and branches, ' ' and odd
section lands outside of that as indemnity for any they failed to
get in the original limits by reason of settlers having acquired
right to the same under the preemption laws of the United States,
the indemnity limit not to extend further than fifteen miles from
the line of road. The railroad line, as first surveyed, where it
crossed Red Lake river, was eleven miles west of the place where
it was actually built. The plat of definite location filed in the
office of the secretary of the interior showed this first survey as
the line of the road, and the lands were conveyed with reference
to it, locating nearly all but indemnity lands on the west side of
the railroad as it was constructed.
Large tracts of these railroad lands were sold in 1877 for two
dollars and a half an acre, and later for a short time at prices
not much in advance. In this way E. D. Childs & Company got
10,000 acres; Lockhart and Graver the Keystone farm of 9,000
acres; and E. H. Corser, March & Spaulding, the Corrigans and
some others became "bonanza" farmers of the county. These
large farms, in some respects a drawback, helped to advertise
the country and bring in capital.
The immigration during this period was largely from Norway
and Sweden, and about one-half of the population was Scandi
navian or of Scandinavian descent. Many of them had resided
or been born and reared in Wisconsin, northern Iowa or southern
Minnesota. As everywhere, their sterling qualities made them
among the most desirable acquisitions in the formation of the
community. In 1878 a large immigration of French Canadians and their
descendants set in. Pierre Bottineau, the noted scout and guide,
elsewhere mentioned, came from Minneapolis and settled on the
Clearwater river, near where it joins the Red Lake river, in 1876,
and Isaiah Gervais came from near St. Paul at the same time.
John B. Bottineau, son of Pierre, acquired a large quantity of
land about the junction of these rivers and farther down the
Red lake by using half-breed script. These persons were instru-

872 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
mental in directing large numbers of the French people to this
section. Louis Fontaine was the most influential person however in
inducing this immigration. He was born in what is now the
province of Quebec in 1839, came to St. Paul, Minn., in 1858, was
a veteran of the Civil War, at the close of which he returned to
St. Paul and entered into the mercantile business. He was fre
quently through the Red River valley in 1872 and following years,
and his acquaintance with it enabled him to speak and write with
authority on its possibilities, which he very diligently did. In
1878 he came to Crookston to reside, and in partnership with
William Anglim engaged in a general mercantile business which
they continued until 1904, carrying on much the most extensive
business in that line in the county, and the most profitable as
well. They still own large interest's here. Remi Fortier was also
active in bringing these people. He was born in Quebec in 1846,
came to Polk county in 1878, engaged in farming, has been chair
man of county commissioners and generally prominent in the
affairs of the county.
In 1885 the "French colony" in the county numbered about
5,000 people, living mostly in and between Crookston and Red
Lake Falls. The gaiety, vivacity and happy nature of these peo
ple gives a charm to the social life of which they form a part,
that could be ill dispensed with. As in their old home they are
faithful attendants upon their places of worship, and their
churches surpass all others in beauty and finish.
Almost aU the northern states and countries of Europe and
provinces of Canada have contributed to the population of the
county, giving it the advantages and disadvantages of a popula
tion of many peoples. Railroads.
After a long period of stagnation the St. Paul & Pacific Rail
way, under the receivership of Jesse P. Farley, took up in the
year 1877 the work of connecting its disjointed portions of rail
road. The line which had been built from St. Paul to Brecken
ridge was extended to Glyndon and connected with the St. Vin
cent extension, and in the following year was reconstructed from

POLK COUNTY 873
Crookston to Warren and continued from there to the Canadian
boundary, where it was operated in connection with another line
to the rapidly growing city of Winnipeg. There was a great rush
of settlers to the province of Manitoba from eastern Canada at
this time, and as soon as railroad connection was made, there
being no other railroad north of the Northern Pacific, the traffic
became immense. It was not until the following year that the
road was extended from Fisher's Landing to Grand Forks.
With the movement in railroad building the people were in
spired with new life and they went to work diligently and hope
fully to extend their farming operations and business, and as
the crops of these years were good and prices fair, land values
rose rapidly and prosperity became general, and the feeling was
instilled that their new home was indeed one of the favored spots
of the earth. The period from 1877 to 1884 was the boom time
of Polk county as of the valley generally. In 1883 and 1884
population flowed rapidly into the lands then thrown open for
settlement in the east end of the county usually designated ' ' The
Thirteen Towns." These settlers were mainly NorAvegians. At
this period almost every one farmed in person or by proxy, and
effort was mainly directed to the production of wheat, whieh was
usually a good crop with good prices. Lands and city and village
property rose rapidly in market value and prosperity and con
tentment was general. The population rose to 11,433 in 1880,
including what is now Norman county, and to 23,475 in 1885, with
Norman county detached. Judicial History.
In 1876 Polk county was detached from Becker and attached
for judicial purposes to the county of Clay, and in February,
1879, it was detached from Clay and organized for judicial pur
poses. The first term of district court was held in June, 1879,
in a new store building on the corner of Second and Main streets,
in the city of Crookston. Hon. 0. P. Stearns was the presiding
judge. He was one of the ablest judges the state has ever had,
and withal one of the manliest men.
During the earlier seventies there was not much need of legal
services. It has been mentioned that W. G. Woodruff was the

874 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
first county attorney of the county. He was the first lawyer to
locate in it, but he removed to Grand Forks. John McLean, whose
recent sad death is much deplored, was the next lawyer here.
He became county attorney in 1876 and held that office until
1881, and was one of the most active and public-spirited of the
citizens of that time. He continued to practice law until 1888,
Avhen he Avent west to Washington state, but returning in a few
years became city justice of Crookston, which office he held at
the time of his death. Next in order of time came William Watts,
the present district judge, in the beginning of 1878; and in May
of that year came Hon. Frank Ives, who had considerable experi
ence as a lawyer and, forming a partnership with John McLean,
for some years had a large law practice, and in 1892 was elected
judge of the district court. He has retired from active service,
has reached a good old age, and now resides at Cass Lake, Minn.,
where he is the editor and proprietor of the "Cass Lake Times."
In the spring of 1879 came Hon. Reuben Reynolds from Minne
apolis, who practiced law in Crookston until 1885, when he be
came district judge. Though he did not take up the study of law
until somewhat late in life he became well learned in the law and
as a forensic and political speaker has had no superior among
those who have resided in the Red River valley. He died in
March, 1889.
Among other members of the bar who came to the county soon
after district court was established in it, and attained to large
practice, may be mentioned John Leo, who became county attor
ney and later removed to Washington state, where he has been
a member of the legislature; Hon. H. Steenerson, the present
member of congress, elsewhere mentioned, who soon became a
leader of the bar; R. J. Montague, an eloquent orator, Avho has
been judge of probate, county attorney, and is now register of
the United States land office ; Arthur A. Miller, who is gifted with
a very high order of intellectual and legal ability and is very
prominent in business as well as in legal circles; and James G.
McGrew, a veteran of the Civil and Indian wars, in whieh he
reached the rank of captain, and who, as lawyer and editor of
the Crookston "Chronicle," exercised considerable influence in
the affairs of the county.

POLK COUNTY 875,
Probably the court trial that has aroused the greatest interest
in the county was that of Archibald Gillan, in June, 1880, charged
with the murder of Phineas B. Snyder at East Grand Forks, by
striking him upon the head with a beer faucet. Judge Davis
Brower, one of our early legal lights, assisted the county attor
ney in the prosecution, while Judge Reynolds and W. W. Erwin,
of St. Paul, were attorneys for the defendant. The "tall pine,"
as "Bill" Erwin was called, was the most brilliant criminal law
yer the Northwest has ever had, and he well maintained his great
reputation on this occasion, thrilling the large attendance with
his impassioned eloquence. That Gillan killed Snyder was ad
mitted. The grounds of defense were self-defense and insanity.
The jury acquitted the defendant on the ground of temporary
insanity. The verdict was not generally well received. It was
quite plain Gillan did not intend to kill, but the opinion was he
should have been convicted of manslaughter.
United States Land Office.
An event of the first importance in the county's history was
the removal to Crookston from Detroit of the United States land
office in May, 1879. The government land business in this dis
trict was at that time very large and in land contests and other
matters before the office for two or three years, more was made
by the lawyers than the district court practice has ever brought
in a like period of time. With the office came Paul C. Sletten,
as receiver, and Thomas C. Shapleigh, as register. The first
named was one of the most notable figures in our history. Born
in Norway in 1839, he came to America after reaching manhood.
He was engaged in railroad construction and farming in Becker
county in the early seventies. At that time civil service reform
did not attain to any very alarming extent in federal politics.
In fact an official was expected to justify his appointment by
activity in the interests of those most instrumental in obtaining
it. In 1874 a contest was on between General Averill, of St.
Paul, and William S. King, of Minneapolis, for the Republican
nomination for congress in the third congressional district of
Minnesota, which at that time extended from St. Paul to the
Canadian boundary. Judge Reuben Reynolds, who was then re-

876 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ceiver, favored General Averill, but Paul Sletten got the dele
gates in this part of the district for King, who was nominated
and elected. "Bill" King, as he was generally called, believed
in supporting his supporters, and he soon had Mr. Sletten made
register, which office he held until the time of his death in 1884.
He developed into the most masterful politician who has ever
lived in this part of the state. He never attempted speech mak
ing nor did he seem to take an active part on the floor of a con
vention hall, but what he desired was done, and the common
remark was "Whatever Sletten says, goes." While the receiver
was devoting most of his time to politics the register, Thomas C.
Shapleigh, attended to the duties of the office, which he very
ably performed. He was born in 1824, in Shapleigh, Me., where
his ancestors had lived nearly 200 years, and came to the North
west in 1855. After holding the office of register eight years he
was for four years clerk of district court. His wife and fair
daughters were among the most prominent in the social life of
Crookston 's earlier years. He died in 1900.
John Cromb succeeded to the position of register of the land
office in 1883, holding it for eight years. He was born in Scot
land in 1843 and came to northwestern Minnesota in 1869, locat
ing in Becker county the following year, where he was admitted
to the bar. He came to Crookston in 1879 and engaged in law
and banking business, and from that time until his death in 1908
was one of the most influential and highly respected of its people.
He was a model register, and for many years was president of
the Merchants' National Bank, and for a quarter century was
the leading spirit on the board of education of his city.
Political History.
The county was strongly Republican in politics until the elec
tion of 1890, when the Populist party prevailed by a large major
ity, electing their full county and legislative tickets. Among
those most potent in county political affairs were Peter J. McGuire
and O. H. Locken, the first named holding the office of county
auditor and the last county treasurer for ten years, from the
beginning of 1881 to the end of 1890. Charles S. Spendley was
register of deeds from the beginning of 1877 to the end of 1886.

POLK COUNTY 877
For eight years, beginning January, 1901, the Populist party
had complete control. Principals in the leadership of this party
were P. M. Ringdal, state senator; Edwin E. Lommen, who was
state senator and nominated by the state convention for lieu
tenant-governor; William Marin, John D. Knutson and James
Cummings, representatives; Andrew Steenerson, sheriff; A. R.
Holston, county attorney; C. U. Webster, county auditor; Arny
Grundysen, sheriff; L. E. Gossman, county attorney; John Vig,
clerk of district court ; Ole E. Hagen, judge of probate, and Dis
trict Judge Frank Ives. On the whole the affairs of the county
were quite well managed by the Populist party while they were
in power. In 1900 it began to break up, its adherents becoming
again Democrats and Republicans, and since that time the Repub
licans are in control. Local Politics.
Local politics have been much colored by the ambition of
several towns to become the county seat of a new county. The
laws of 1893 provided for county division and the creation of new
counties by vote of the electors. This vote was required to be
taken when a petition signed by voters one-fourth in number of
those voting at the last general election Avas filed with the county
auditor and secretary of state. All voters had the right to vote
upon each new county proposition. At the general election in
November, 1894, vote was taken upon the proposed establishment
of four new counties within the territory of the county of Polk.
They were Nash, with county seat at East Grand Forks; Red
Lake, with county seat at Red Lake Falls; Nelson, with county
seat at Fosston ; and Columbia, with county seat at Mcintosh. All
were defeated, but Red Lake had nearly enough votes in its
favor. In 1885 the law was amended so as to allow an elector
to vote only for or against one proposition to create a new county
at the same election. The senator who got this change in the
law intended that it should only permit the submission of one
proposition to create a new county at an election ; but the supreme
court construed it as not having that effect. The result was, at
the general election in 1896 the voters had before them six propo
sitions for new counties within the territory of Polk. They were :
Nelson, with county seat at Fosston ; Hill, with county seat at

878 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
East Grand Forks; Red Lake, with county seat at Red Lake
Falls; Garfield, with county seat at Mcintosh; Columbia, with
county seat at Mcintosh ; and Mills, with county seat at Erskine.
As the result showed more of the voters were opposed to division
than in its favor, but each having the privilege of voting on only
one out of the six propositions before him made it impossible to
divide the votes so that effect would be given to the wishes of
the majority in the matter of division. The result Avas the estab
lishment of the new county of Red Lake by proclamation of the
governor, which Avas afterAvards sustained by the supreme court.
The other propositions Avere defeated though the vote on Gar
field Avas very close. In 1902 three new counties were candidates
for creation — Nelson, with county seat at Fosston ; Columbia, with
county seat at Mcintosh; and Star, with county seat at Erskine.
The territory in each was the same, the only differences being in
name of county seat and county commissioners. Each proposi
tion received a majority of the votes cast upon it, and the gov
ernor proclaimed Columbia a county in December, 1902. It was
carried on as such until April, 1903, Avhen the supreme court
decided that but one proposition involving the same territory
could be submitted at the same election and that the election in
question was abortive and Avithout result. The laAv has since been
changed and provides that no more than one proposition to create
ft new county shall be submitted at the same election. Under this
last law a proposition to create Nelson county, with Fosston as
the county seat, was submitted at the general election in 1908,
but was defeated. As might be expected much interest was mani
fested in these elections, mainly by the inhabitants of the pro
posed county seats, and much effort on their part Avas used to
bring about favorable results.
Besides the railroads already mentioned there has been built
through the county a branch line from Shirley to St. Hilaire in
1884; the Duluth and Manitoba, by way of Fertile to Red Lake
Falls and Grand Porks, in 1886 ; the Crookston, Duluth and North
ern, from Fertile through Crookston to East Grand Forks, in
1889, and an extension of the Moorhead Northern from Halstad
to Crookston, in 1898, and the extension of the Great Northern
through to Duluth in 1898.

POLK COUNTY 879
It may be said generally that during the later seventies and
down to 1895 the energies of the tillers of the soil in Polk county
were mainly directed to the production of wheat. Since that
time the tendency has been more to diversified farming and stock
raising. In the eastern part of the county creameries are becom
ing numerous and well patronized.
The population of the county was 30,192 in 1890 and 39,209
in 1895. With Red Lake detached, it was 35,429 in 1900 and
37,212 in 1905, according to the last state census returns. Na
tivity is given at 19,488 born in Minnesota, 5,776 born in the
United States outside of Minnesota, 845 in Germany, 1707 in
Sweden, 6,358 in Norway, 1,808 in Canada, 174 in Ireland, 205
in Denmark, 97 in England, 197 in Bohemia, 164 in Russia, 94 in
Scotland, 71 in Austria, and 228 all other countries.
The assessed valuation in 1908, exclusive of exemptions, was
$10,710,989, of whieh $1,769,999 was personal property.
The present county officers are Ben Clements, Marius Chris
tianson, Helge H. Thoreson, E. G. Eklund and James Driscoll,
county commissioners, Mr. Clements being chairman; Henry J.
Welte, county auditor; George J. Flaten, treasurer; Orin Daniels,
sheriff; William A. Lanctot, clerk of court; Theodore A. Thomp
son, register of deeds; Thorvold T. Morken, judge of probate;
Erick O. Hagen, county attorney; Nels A. Thorson, superintend
ent of schools; Stener Steenerson, surveyor; and Nels P. Sten-
shoel, coroner.
It constitutes the sixty-second legislative district and is rep
resented in the senate by Hon. A. D. Stephens and in the house
of representatives by Hon. John Holten and Johannes A. Saug-
stad, all Republicans..
Hon. A. D. Stephens was born of Swedish parents in Carver
county, Minnesota, in 1853, was educated in the common schools
and St. Ansgar's Academy, has resided in Polk county ever since
1880, and is serving his second term as state senator. He was
chairman of the finance committee of the senate during the last
session of the legislature, and is one of the ablest and most influ
ential members of that body. He has taken great interest in
the advancement of the Crookston Agricultural College, and its
principal building, Stephens Hall, is named in his honor.

880 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Hon. John Holton was born in Norway in 1851, coming to the
United States in 1866. He is engaged in the mercantile business
in the village of Fertile.
Hon. Johannes Saugstad was born in Wisconsin in 1873, is a
graduate of Crookston high school and is engaged in farming.
The ninth congressional district of Minnesota is represented
in congress by Hon. Halvor Steenerson. He was born of Nor
wegian parents in Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1852, was edu
cated in the common schools, high school and Union College of
Law, Chicago. He has been a resident of Crookston, in Polk
county, ever since 1880 engaged in the practice of law. He is
one of the ablest and most successful lawyers in the northern
part of Minnesota and has been state senator and delegate to
the national Republican convention. He is now serving his third
term in the house of representatives, in which body he ranks high
as a debater and efficient worker. Military.
A considerable number of the early settlers were Union sol
diers in the Civil War. Colonel Cobham Post of G. A. R. was
established in Crookston and has had a membership of 104 at
one time. Of those who belong to it besides old soldiers already
named may be mentioned Charles H. Mix, who was born in Vir
ginia in 1833, came to the Northwest in 1856, enlisted as a private
soldier and rose to the rank of major, and Sergeant Andrew J.
Kelley, who was born in Indiana in 1845 and came to Polk county
in 1873, where he has ever since resided. He is one of the few
to hold a congressional medal of honor, awarded him for distin
guished service in heading a company of six men who volunteered
for the purpose and went forward and burned a house betAveen
the contending armies before Knoxville, Tenn.
Polk county furnished two companies of volunteer soldiers
for the Spanish American war, one under command of Captain
Decker, the other under Captain Brandt. They went into camp
at Chickamauga, but neA7er met the enemy.
Crookston has now a company of National Guards under
Captain Westerberg.

POLK COUNTY 881
Schools.
There are 217 school districts in Polk county and 227 school
buildings, in which are employed 48 male and 267 female teachers,
with a total enrollment of 9,559 scholars, of whom 3,604 are in
independent districts. All graded, semigraded and high schools
and sixty rural schools are equipped with modern ventilating
systems. The first organized was the Crookston district, in
March, 1876. Its first teacher was a young lady from Wisconsin,
who soon became the wife of Hugh Thompson and retired, and
Mrs. Kelsey D. Chase was the second teacher. The first school-
house was built in 1876 of boards and tar paper, at the edge of
the timber on what is now Fourth street, between Main and
Broadway streets. It was very primitive in construction and
furniture, but it answered for the only public hall and church
as well as for school purposes. Ellery C. Davis, E. M. Walsh
and Robert Houston were the first school board. In 1883 the
high school was established under the supervision of S. A. Farns
worth. He was succeeded the following year by Professor John
Moore, who for fifteen years continuously held the position of
superintendent of the city schools. He was born in 1842 and
is a graduate M. A. and LL. B. of Victoria College, Canada, and
has ever since his graduation been in the educational work. Be
sides being a fine scholar he has the other qualities required for
success as a teacher and superintendent and has always been very
diligent in his work. He soon brought the schools of the city, and
particularly the high school, into the front rank among the
schools of the state, and maintained it in that position.
The present superintendent, Prof. E. E. Mclntyre, is serving
his sixth year in that capacity and is admirably qualified for the
position. He is a graduate of Colby University in the state of
Maine. Of county superintendents, Prof. Thomas Casey has held office
the longest, having served ten years in that position, and the
improvement made in the rural districts has in a large measure
been brought about by him. He was succeeded in 1909 by the
present incumbent, Prof. N. Anthony Thoreson, who was born
in Nicollet county, Minnesota, in 1881, and is a graduate of Gus-
tavus Adolphus College in this state.

882 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Banks and Banking in Polk County, Minnesota.
By
A. A. MiUer.
According to the best information at present attainable, the
beginning of banking in what is now Polk county, Minnesota,
took place in the year 1878, when J. G. McGrew and John Cromb
started a small bank upon Main street in the city of Crookston,
having its office in the small frame building occupied by Ives &
McLean as a law office. The amount of capital invested in this
bank is uncertain, but was not very large. These gentlemen con
ducted the banking business of the county until late in 1880, or
early in 1881, when the Merchants' Bank of Crookston was organ
ized by M. R. Brown, William Ross, H. B. Montgomery and
Joseph Kelso, who contributed as capital the sum of $40,000.
Mr. Kelso was a resident of the state of Iowa, and Mr. Mont
gomery of St. Paul, Minn. The active management of the bank
was in the hands of William Ross, who was the cashier. The
officers of this bank Avere Joseph Kelso, president; M. R. Brown,
vice president, and William Ross, cashier. The new bank bought
out the banking business of McGrew and Cromb and continued
in business as a private bank for several years, until 1884, when
the Merchants' National Bank of Crookston was organized, with
a capital of $75,000, and succeeded to the business of the Mer
chants' Bank. Its first president was John Cromb, with William
Ross as cashier and H. B. Montgomery as vice president. In the
year 1891 the interests of Joseph Kelso were purchased by A. D.
Stephens, who became its cashier and assumed the active man
agement and control of the bank, which at this writing he still
retains. On the death of John Cromb, in 1908, Mr. Stephens be
came the president of the bank and V. C. McGregor succeeded to
the position of cashier.
The first incorporated bank in Polk county was the First
National Bank of Crookston, which was organized in the fall of
the year 1881, with a capital of $100,000, now $75,000, and com
menced business in the early days of January, 1882. The banking
office now occupied by this bank was erected during the fall of

POLK COUNTY 883
1882, and the bank has occupied it from that time constantly
up to the present. The first president of the First National Bank
was Robert H. Baker, of Racine, Wis. The first cashier was
Ansel Bates, who had the active management of the bank for
several years. He Avas succeeded in 1884 as cashier by Charles
E. Sawyer and at the same time George Q. Erskine was elected
president of the bank. In 1895 Mr. J. W. Wheeler became the
cashier of the First National Bank, and has had the active man
agement of it from that time to the present. Mr. Wheeler is now
the president of the bank and C. F. Mix is the cashier.
The next bank in Crookston to be organized was the Scandia
American Bank of Crookston, which was organized in the fall
of the year 1887, with a capital of $50,000, and in December of
that year commenced business in the new McKinnon block at
the corner of Main street and Broadway, where it has ever since
remained. The first officers of this bank were Carl Hendrickson,
of Grafton, N. D., president; Lewis Ellington and Halvor Steener
son, as vice presidents, and A. G. Galash, as cashier. Mr. Elling
ton has been, from the organization of this bank, active in the
business management, and has held the position of either vice
president or cashier constantly, and is now the cashier of the
bank. In the early part of the year 1904 the interests of Carl
Hendrickson and others were acquired by Messrs. Miller & Foote,
of Crookston, and J. P. Foote, of this firm, became the president
of the bank.
The youngest bank in the city of Crookston is the Crookston
State Bank, which was established in the year 1902 as a private
bank under the name of the Bank of Crookston, with a capital
of $20,000, with L. E. Jones as president and L. D. Foskett as
cashier. During the early part of the present year, 1909, this institu
tion was incorporated as the Crookston State Bank, with a capital
of $40,000, and J. A. Northrup as president and L. D. Foskett as
cashier, and succeeded to the business of the Bank of Crookston.
At the present time the deposits in the four banks of Crooks
ton' are something over $2,500,000, with a combined capital of
the four banks of $240,000. The Crookston banks always have
been managed by gentlemen of undoubted integrity, who have

884 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
always taken pride in maintaining the credit of their several
institutions. These banks have always been able to provide all
the accommodations needed for banking purposes in Crookston
and its vicinity, and have always had the most implicit confidence
of the people of this locality. That this confidence has been de
served is apparent from the fact that during the panic of the
year 1893 the three banks in the city of Crookston were the only
banks in the Red River valley which did not refuse payment in
whole or part of their certificates of deposits. There was not
at any time a day when every check or certificate of deposit
issued by one of these banks was not honored and paid in cash
upon presentation by the holder, while other banks were either
refusing payment of their certificates of deposits or issuing clear
ing house certificates in place thereof.
In the fall and winter of the year 1908, when the widespread
money stringency spread over the whole of the United States and
substantially all of the banks in the country suspended payment
and refused to honor checks of their own customers and their
own certificates of deposits, excepting in very small amounts,
the banks of Crookston adopted and carried through the same
policy which they had followed in 1893, and every certificate of
deposit issued to their depositors or checks drawn by their de
positors were paid in cash on presentation and demand therefor.
As further illustrating the confidence of the community in
the management of the Crookston banks, it may be stated that
thirty days after the suspension of payment by banks in the coun
try generally in the fall of 1908, the Crookston banks had on
hand in actual money in their vaults more than double the sums
which they had at the time the money stringency was inaugurated.
Outside of the city of Crookston, as the country settled up
and small villages and towns grew up along the different lines
of railroad small banking institutions from time to time were
established with capital running all the way from $10,000 up
to $50,000. These banks, many of them, were originally operated
as private banks, but all have now been incorporated. At the
present writing the banking capital of the combined banks of
Polk county is even $500,000, distributed amongst nineteen dif
ferent banks. These banks are the following:

HON. B. E. SUNDBERG

POLK COUNTY 885
Polk County Banks of Today.
Merchants' National Bank of Crookston — A. D. Stephens,
president ; Virgil L. McGregor, cashier.
First National Bank of Crookston — J. W. Wheeler, president ;
C. F. Mix, cashier.
Scandia American Bank — J. P. Foote, president ; L. Ellington,
cashier. Crookston State Bank — J. A. Northrup, president ; L. D.
Foskett, cashier.
First State Bank of Beltrami — J. W. Wheeler, president ; C. C.
Heath, cashier.
State Bank of Climax — B. B. Larson, president; Norman Ros-
holt, cashier.
First National Bank of East Grand Forks — E. Arneson, presi
dent ; G. R. Jacobi, cashier.
First State Bank of East Grand Forks — C. J. Lofgren, presi
dent; N. J. Nelson, cashier.
State Bank of Eldred — Norman Rosholt, president ; S. Thomp
son, cashier.
State Bank of Erskine — L. Ellington, president; A. F. Cron-
quist, cashier.
Citizens State Bank of Fertile — 0. H. Taralseth, president;
A. P. Hanson, cashier.
First State Bank of Fertile — W. H. Mathews, president ; Nor
man Hanson, cashier.
Bank of Fisher — Gunder Krostoe, president; A. 0. Stortroen,
cashier. First National Bank of Fosston — A. D. Stephens, president;
Lewis Lohn, cashier.
First State Bank of Fosston — L. W. Larsen, president ; J. Lade,
cashier. Citizens' State Bank of Mcintosh — J. P. Foote, president; C.
L. Conger, cashier.
First National Bank of Mcintosh — W. F. Reickhoff, president ;
C. M. Berg, cashier.
First State Bank of Mentor — A. D. Stephens, president ; Joseph
Tagley, cashier.

886 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
State Bank of Neilsville — B. B. Larson, president ; James Lar
son, cashier.
During all the times in the history of Polk county there has
never been a failure of any bank within its limits. The officers
of these banks are prominent amongst the business men of the
vicinity and amongst the banking fraternity in the state, and
have furnished one president for the Minnesota Bankers' Asso
ciation, Mr. J. W. Wheeler, of the First National Bank of Crooks
ton. That these banks have received the confidence of the people
of the county is due entirely to the fact that they have deserved
it by the conservatism with which the banks have been managed
and at the same time by the liberality of the treatment of their
customers. The banking rooms of the several banks are ample for the
business which they transact, and especially is it true of the banks
at Crookston that they do not suffer by comparison with the rooms
occupied by banks in much larger cities than that of Crookston.

CHAPTER XL.
CROOKSTON, MINNESOTA— HER EDUCATIONAL, RELI
GIOUS AND FRATERNAL INSTITUTIONS.
Public Schools of Crookston.
By
E. E. Mclntire.
Crookston educates its children in two distinct school districts,
district No. 1 and district No. 257. The latter is located in the
south side of the city, in that section known as South Crookston,
or Carman, and is organized as a common school with an official
board of three trustees. District No. 1 is organized as an inde
pendent school district and is administered by a board of educa
tion composed of six members, as follows : E. M. Walsh, presi
dent; Edward Peterson, clerk; F. R. Hamel, treasurer; Carl
Reidesel, 0. O. Christianson, E. L. Chesterman.
All of the sites for school buildings, with the exception of the
one in Highland Park, are occupied by commodious and modern
buildings. In Jerome's addition is the McKinley building of four
rooms, opened in 1903; in the "woods" neighborhood, the new
and magnificent Franklin building, opened last January, erected
at the cost of $40,000, with rooms for eight departments; in
Sampson's addition, the Eugene Field School, remodeled and en
larged three years ago, of four departments; on the "Hill," the
new Washington School, of four departments, was opened two
years ago, a building of the newest approved appointments, and
887

888 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
the central grounds, the Lincoln and High School buildings, the
former the older, with rooms for thirteen departments, the latter
the home of the 260 high school pupils, with their nine or ten
teachers. The maximum registration of pupils in the above enu
merated schools is 1,763, for whose instruction the district employs
forty-one teachers.
Each building is heated by steam, is equipped with a complete
plumbing system and is supplied with ten proper mechanical de
vices for perfect ventilation. Forced ventilation is obtained in
the Franklin School by a fan drawn by a twelve-horsepower elec
tric motor.
The high school receives special state aid amounting to nearly
$2,500 a year, and extends for tuition to all pupils without regard
to their place of residence, a fact whieh helps to account for the
large number of non-resident pupils registered in the school.
Seven hundred and fifty dollars of state aid is annually received
on account of the normal training department, which is main
tained in connection with the high school and which has enrolled
during the past year between forty and fifty pupils. This depart
ment is to prepare students for teaching.
An ungraded department was organized for the benefit of
pupils not adapted to the graded system, two years ago, and now
enrolls nearly 100 pupils and employs two special instructors.
Manual training was introduced one year ago, for which the
shop is located on the fourth floor of the high school building.
whieh has a complete equipment of benches and tools for carpen
tering and tables for mechanical drawing; shop work is given to
all the boys above the fifth grade and to as many as wish it in
the high school. During the past year 250 boys have enjoyed the
benefit of the department of instruction. Sewing is taught to the
girls of the same grade. Music and drawing are being systemat
ically taught under special instruction. In the high school are
the following musical organizations: A hoys' glee club, a girls'
glee club, a mixed chorus and a high school orchestra.
Literary work receives regular attention, each high school
class constituting a literary society, giving programs tri-weekly
throughout the school year. Public declamations and orations

CROOKSTON 889
are encouraged. Class debates are a part of the regular work of
the school.
The general library of reference books is gradually increasing
and now comprises nearly 1,000 well chosen volumes. This library
is of the freest access and is in constant use.
The pupils have published during the past year a school organ
called the "Little Press," which has been highly complimented
both at home and abroad. The social life of the high school re
ceives proper encouragement.
Among the boys the athletic sports are by no means neglected,
and it has been the aim of the school to take a firm stand for
clean sports in all inter-scholastic contests. The young men of
the Crookston high school have been the recipients of high com
mendation for their uniform good behavior while representing
their school and city in the neighboring towns.
Ezra E. Mclntire. — The present superintendent of the Crooks
ton schools, Ezra Elmer Mclntire, was born in Neponset, 111., June
15, 1861, educated in a preparatory school known as the Water-
ville Classical Institute, Waterville, Me., where he attended from
1877-79, under Dr. J. H. Hanson, principal. Graduated from
Colby University, state of Maine, with the class of 1884, degree
of A. B. ; degree of M. A. in class of 1886.
After graduating he went to Union, la., where he was engaged
in teaching from 1886-88. He next went to Warsaw, 111., where
he was also engaged in the same occupation from 1888-90. He
then removed to Glencoe, Minn., where he also took up teaching,
remaining there from 1890-1903. From there went to Crookston
and accepted the superintendency of the city schools.
Prof. Thomas Casey was born in the Empire state, in the city
of Rochester, October 27, 1855. Son of Joseph and Matilda
(Webb) Casey, both of Irish extraction. Father of the subject
of this pleasant memoir was an agriculturist. In 1863, when the
great Civil War was going on, this family removed to Samilae
county, Michigan. In that state Professor Casey completed his
high school course, then entered northern Indiana Normal School
in the city of Valparaiso, completing a scientific course, graduat
ing in class of 1882, with degree of B. S. At the age of nineteen

890 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
he taught school during his college vacations, and immediately
after graduating he was chosen as the principal of his home
schools. In 1882 he resigned his position to join the Winnipeg
boom, and for a year after arriving in Winnipeg, Manitoba,
worked as a bookkeeper for the firm of McDonald & Hawley. In
the fall of 1883 was the beginning of his school career in Polk
county, arriving in Crookston, where he again took up his chosen
profession of teaching; selected to teach the South Crookston
schools for a brief period. Later became the choice of the people
as principal of the Fisher schools, where he continued for three
years. Many of his pupils there have felt his impress among
them as an able teacher, especially in mathematics and penman
ship. He taught in the grammar department of the Crookston
high school for one year; superintendent of the city schools of
East Grand Forks one year, when he was induced to return to
Fisher for one year. He was then appointed as superintendent of
schools in Polk county, to fill the vacancy of E. F. Elliot. Polk
county was then the largest organized county in the state, and
Professor Casey served as superintendent one year and a half.
He joined the next campaign as the Republican nominee for the
office of county superintendent, and received the nomination by
acclamation, but the party ticket was defeated by the Populist
landslide, although he ran 1,603 votes ahead of his ticket. He
then became city superintendent of Red Lake Falls city schools,
where he continued for five consecutive years, and during this
period was engaged by the state to instruct teachers in the sum
mer school for four years, and thus became one of the most suc
cessful and popular instructors of northern Minnesota. He was
again induced to take charge of the Fisher state graded schools,
where he remained until the fall of 1900; then resigned to enter
the campaign as a candidate on the Republican ticket for county
superintendent of Polk county. He was elected against his for
midable opponent by a majority of more than 500, and was the
first Republican to qualify in Polk county in a period of ten years
as a county official. He holds a state professional certificate. He
is a member of the Masonic Order of Crookston.

CROOKSTON 891
Northwest Experiment Farm and Crookston School of Agriculture
of the University of Minnesota.
By
William Robertson.
The Northwest Experiment Farm of the University of Minne
sota, a gift from James J. Hill, is situated just north of Crooks
ton. It was established in 1895, with T. A. Hoverstad as super
intendent, the object being to study local agricultural conditions
of this section of the state. Under Superintendent Hoverstad 's
administration several acres of forestry plantation were made, a
good poultry plant was put in operation and appropriations were
made by the state for installing an experimental drainage system.
Meanwhile, owing to the enthusiasm of the people of this re
gion, the legislature of 1905 was induced to pass a law establish
ing a school of agriculture, which was to be a department of the
University of Minnesota, be in charge of the board of regents of
the university and be located at or near Crookston. An appro
priation of $15,000 was also made for erecting and equipping a
building for its use.
At this time Superintendent Hoverstad resigned and William
Robertson, of the St. Anthony Park school, was elected superin
tendent of both the school and the farm, and took charge of affairs
in August of the same season.
The board of regents, after due consideration, located the
school on the Northwest Experiment Farm, and the following
winter erected a three-story brick building which housed the
school for the first two years. The school is what might be classed
as an agricultural high school, and is intended to round out the
education of the farm boys and girls after they leave the rural
schools, fitting them. either to go back to the farm or to enter the
university, should they desire to take up professional work in the
line of agriculture. Students attending the institution are boarded
at the school and are thus in a continual agricultural atmosphere,
expenses being only the actual cost of living. The course of
study includes farm botany, mechanical drawing, music, farm
mathematics, poultry, social culture, English, agriculture, black-

892 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
smithing, carpentry, military drill, cooking, physical training,
sewing, study of breeds, laundering, agricultural physics, dairy
ing, fruit growing, farm accounts, stock judging, breeding, house
hold art, agricultural chemistry, vegetable gardening, field crops,
gymnasium, forestry, entomology, algebra, handling grain and
machinery, veterinary science, civics, geometry, plant propaga
tion, dressing and curing meats, feeding, soils and fertilizers, home
economy, domestic chemistry, domestic hygiene and meats.
Although the school has been hampered by lack of funds, room
and equipment, it has been popular from the start, and in its third
winter had an enrollment of 101 students, practically all farmers '
sons and daughters, coming from various parts of northwestern
Minnesota. As a result of the loyal support of the people of the Red River
valley, under the able leadership of Senator A. D. Stephens, the
school is now being well cared for in the way of current expense,
and will have two additional buildings within the next two years.
With its numerous attractive buildings and pleasant surround
ings and the practical work which it is accomplishing, the insti
tution is becoming a source of pride to the people of the Red
River valley.
Along with the development of the school has gone that of the
farm. In co-operation with the department of agriculture at
Washington the experimental drainage system has been installed,
the farm now having two miles of open ditch and approximately
nine miles of tile drains. Minnesota Experiment Station Bulletin
No. 110 gives a full description of the system.
The poultry plant of the farm continues to grow in importance
and is doing much to provide the farmers of the state, at small
cost, with excellent strains of pure-bred stock.
The farm and school are only a pleasant drive or walk from
Crookston, and are much visited by outsiders as well as by
farmers. Eclectic Business College.
The Eclectic Business College of Crookston is located on the
top floor of the Merchants Bank building and is under the man
agement of Mrs. Julia A. Hughes. This college is fast becoming
one of the best shorthand schools in Minnesota. The principal,

CROOKSTON 893
Mrs. Julia A. Hughes, is a woman of years of experience as a
reporter of some of the largest conventions in the Northwest, and
is well versed in court work, having had twenty years' experience
as a public stenographer, typeAvriter and expert accountant. She
founded a school, September, 1905, on a small scale in her own
private home, teaching shorthand and other branches. In Sep
tember, 1906, she opened the Eclectic Business College in the
old postoffice building, and in December, 1908, moved into the
present headquarters, Merchants Bank building. She under
stands and can teach several systems of shorthand, namely: Ec
lectic, Graham, Munson, Moran, Pitman and Gregg. After years
of experience in all these systems, she has decided that the Eclec
tic is the easiest to learn, read, write and remember. This college
also teaches elocution and oratory, commercial and preparatory
courses. Bookkeeping in all its branches is in charge of an ex
perienced accountant, M. J. Casey, who teaches latest and short
est methods. Commercial law, political economy and commercial
correspondence are in charge of P. S. Hughes, who is thoroughly
versed in these subjects. This college will graduate a class of
twenty-four in June, 1909.
Mrs. Julia A. Hughes was born in Chicago and attended school
there seven years, three at convent and four at the public schools,
completing the eight grades. Attended- high school at Storm
Lake, Iowa ; next entered the Buena Vista County Normal Insti
tute, completed a four years' course and graduated in class of
1888, receiving teacher's professional diploma; then entered the
Western . Normal College of Shenandoah, Iowa, and graduated
from that institution in 1891, completing the normal, literary,
scientific, elocution and oratory, shorthand and business courses
and winning a gold seal. Also took a course of private lessons
in elocution, oratory and Delsarte movements, under Marion
Lowell Pickens, of Boston and Philadelphia Schools of Oratory
and Elocution.
The Masonic Lodge of Crookston, No. 114, was organized under
dispensation in 1879. Ross Houston and C. E. Dampier were made
Masons under this dispensation. January 15, 1880, the lodge
received its charter. The first officers : W. M., M. R. Brown ;
S. W., William Box; J. W., J. H. Thomas ; treasurer, W. E. Harts-

894 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
horn; secretary, J. K. Arnold; S. D., W. M. Ross; J. D., W. H.
Stuart; S. S. Frank Bivins; J. S., C. S. Spendley; Tyler, C. E.
Dampier. In 1909 the officers are : W. M., Thomas Morris ; S. W.,
C. L. Bang ; J. W., B. D. Keck ; treasurer, E. M. Walsh ; secretary,
O. Fredericks; S. D., I. S. Mills; J. D., E. W. Schmidt; S. S., H. I.
Marsh ; J. S., Nels Christianson ; Tyler, C. H. Mix.
The approximate membership is 250. They own the top floor
of the Wallace building, valued at $8,000.
Pierson Chapter No. 141. — Excellent high priest, Thomas
Spence King, B. D. Keck; scribe, E. A. Mills; C. H., H. A. Marsh;
P. S., Oscar Frederick; M. 3d V., W. G. Lytle; M. 2d V., C. F.
Mix ; M. 1st V., F. Braeelin ; treasurer, C. E. Dampiers ; secretary,
G. W. Munch. The membership of the chapter is 144.
Constantine Commandery No. 20 — E. C, C. C. Strander; G.,
E. A. Mills ; C. G., C. F. Mix; P., W. S. Ward; S. W., B. D. Keck;
J. W., A. A. Miller; St. B., A. C. Schmidt; S. W. B., F. M. Brown;
W., W. G. Lytle ; treasurer, J. W. Wheeler ; recorder, L. S. Miller.
Membership, 116.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Crookston. — Chief offi
cers at the organization of Valley Encampment No. 9, organized
1880, were as follows : Chief, Frank Creamer ; J. W. Hawkins,
senior warden ; J. W. Sandberg, junior warden ; G. S. Chesterman,
scribe. Later officers are : A. A. Glenn, chief ; W. H. Dixon,
senior warden; M. A. Hoffard, junior warden; G. S. Chesterman,
scribe. Number of members, 90.
This lodge owns its building, valued at $7,500. It was the old
court house, and since the Odd FelloAvs Lodge purchased it has
been remodeled and refurnished.
Crookston Lodge No. 79. — Officers: A. O. Busterud, noble
grand; Magnus Lundberg, vice grand; G. S. Chesterman, secre
tary; Carl Riedesel, treasurer.
Modern Woodmen of America, Crookston Camp No. 2,303,
was instituted by D. H. Counsel and E. O. Ransom. First officers :
V. S., L. G. Theures; W. A., A. C. Schmidt; E. B., A. Chabot;
clerk, William O. Brien ; escort, W. A. Hammond ; watch, Charles
F. Boeman ; secretary, Charles Baungartel ; physician, A. H. Dun
lap. First delegate, Martin O. Brien, March 17, 1896, elected to

CROOKSTON 895
state and national convention. At convention held in Peoria, 111.,
in 1908 he was the unanimous choice of that convention and
elected as national auditor.
Clerk William 0. Brien at first organization of the camp re
signed on account of having to leave the city. He was succeeded
by Carl Riedesel, the present clerk. He has remained continu
ously ever since, with the exception of two terms.
Present officers (1909) : V. C, Thomas R. Johnston; W. A.,
Joseph LeBlanc ; E. B., Nels Peterson ; clerk, Carl Riedesel ; escort,
E. A. Linde ; watch, Joseph Couvrette ; sentry, L. N. Howe.
Directors: A. A. Just, A. H. Dunlap, C. E. Dampier, J. S.
Killand. Up to December 31, 1907, Camp 2,303, Crookston, paid
to head camp $28,951.90. General fund to uphold the head camp,
$3,066.16. Since organization of the local camp, twelve deaths have oc
curred for which $27,000 have been paid in beneficiaries. Camp
2,303 has paid to aid other afflicted members an approximate sum
of $2,000. Also donated $250 to build a cottage known as Crooks
ton cottage on the sanitarium grounds, Colorado Springs.
Clerk Carl Riedesel represented his camp at the national con
vention held at Peoria, 111., in 1908.
Churches of Crookston.
The Catholic Church in the City of Crookston.
By
Judge R. J. Montague.
At the present time about one-third of the population of
Crookston profess to belong to the Catholic church. It is com
monly stated and believed that at least one-half of the people
of Crookston who attend services at churches attend the services
at the Catholic church. Not that there are more Catholics in
town than all other denominations, but more people appear to
attend the services at the Catholic churches in the city than do
at all the other churches.
The parent congregation of the Catholic churches in this city
is St. Anne's church, organized October 22, 1879; the first meet-

896 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ings and services were held in a small hall over Fontaine &
Anglim's store on Main street in the city. At that time William
Kistenmacher, John R. McKinnon and Louis Fontaine were the
trustees. Soon thereafter these trustees secured grounds for the
location of a church. The church location was on lots 21 and 22,
of block 2, in L. Fletcher's addition to Crookston. Mrs. Almira
Clements donated one lot; the trustees bought the other. The
church of that congregation and parsonage are still situated on
those lots. The value of the property is about $19,000. The
church edifice is the latest of the better class of church edifices
built in the city, and probably in all its arrangements is the best.
At the time of the organization of both the congregations
herein referred to of the Catholic church, the Rt. Rev. Seiden-
busch, of St. Cloud, was the bishop in charge of this diocese. The
Rev. Peter B. Champaigne, a resident of Red Lake Falls, had the
general charge as priest of all this territory. Numerous pastors
for short periods of time were placed in charge.
It was a struggle with St. Anne's church for a good while;
the edifice was erected in 1880, but in an entirely uncompleted
condition, until in the summer of 1882, when August Munn, F. E.
LePage and R. J. Montague were selected by the congregation
and approved by the bishop as trustees, and were enabled,
through the generosity of the congregation, to complete the
church and put in pews, since which time services have been regu
larly held. This church was incorporated August 1, 1904, under
Rt. Rev. James MeGolrick, of Duluth, the bishop, the vicar gen
eral, the pastor, Rev. L. J. Grandchamp, Zephraim Geroux, and
P. E. LePage being the incorporators.
The old church edifice, erected in 1880, was moved off the
ground and the present splendid new edifice replaces it. One
hundred and eighty-five families comprise the congregation of
this church at the present time. The societies attached are St.
Anne's Ladies' Society and St. Mary's Sodality for Young Ladies.
The present pastor is the Rev. Tapin.
Any history of this congregation would be entirely incomplete
did it not give some account of St. John Baptiste Society, organ
ized in 1879. This society flourished for more than fifteen years
and comprised nearly all of the enterprising members of the con-

CROOKSTON 897
gregation of that church. Louis Fontaine, then and for many
years the leading merchant of Crookston, was a zealous member
and promoter of that society. It provided entertainments and
on many occasions funds for the church; it celebrated regularly
St. John Baptiste Day, June 24, and regularly, on every anniver
sary of that day, a splendid celebration and street parade was
given. Large sums of money were spent to make the celebration
a success. There were floats in the parades representing the
early Canadian voyageurs; the Canadian boatmen, hunters and
explorers, each accompanied by persons singing the songs and
illustrating the times. They made it the one gala day of the
year. The writer well remembers an old American, Judge
Reynolds' statement, that there was no use trying to celebrate
the Fourth of July, because this St. John Baptiste Society cele
brated so well the 24th of June that their celebration would
eclipse anything likely to be gotten up for the Fourth of July.
The celebration usually ended with balls and festivities for the
young people in the evening. The society disbanded about four
teen years ago.
St. Mary's congregation was organized in 1886 and arose
from the fact that the great majority of the people attending
services at St. Anne's church spoke and understood French and
desired to have sermons in the French language, and those people
not speaking or understanding the French language applied to
the bishop for leave to organize a separate congregation. Such
leave was granted, and in 1886 St. Mary's church was organized.
The first board of trustees was R. J. Montague, William Anglim
and John R. McKinnon. Arrangements were made Avith the Rev.
J. E. Lawler, then the pastor of the Fisher congregation, to give
services to the newly formed congregation of Crookston twice a
month. The church property now consists of lots 15, 16, 17 and
18, of block 14, original townsite of Crookston, situated on the
corner of Broadway and Fifth street, bein 140x150 feet in size,
and contains a plain frame church edifice and residence for the
pastor. The church is becoming insufficient in size for the grow
ing congregation and boasts of being one of the churches of
northern Minnesota to become clear and independent of debt at
an earlier date than other churches. Three years ago its annual

898 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
statement showed that there was no indebtedness and a sum of
more than $500 in the banks on certificates of deposit as a build
ing fund. This is being gradually added to. The grounds are
well located and ample for a splendid church edifice and parson
age. The value of the grounds, present church edifice and par
sonage is about $11,000. The membership is considerably smaller
than that of St. Anne's, but sufficient to build and maintain a
good church; the number of families claimed to belong to the
church at the present time is 130.
The church is now incorporated and the present pastor, with
William Anglim and Judge L. E. Gossman, are its trustees. The
present pastor is Rev. John W. Smiers. Several religious societies
are connected with this church and all are acting zealously and
doing good work.
In connection with the account of the Catholic churches in
the city, reference should be made to the following institutions
and societies under Catholic auspices :
St. Vincent's Hospital, a large and modernly equipped build
ing, constructed in 1902, on block 25, original townsite of Crooks
ton, is owned and conducted by the Benedictine Sisters. This
institution is conducted on the broadest principles of charity, its
doors are open to all, and each year it accommodates upwards of
150 patients. The same sisters maintain in the city a school of
vocal and instrumental music.
St. Joseph's Academy was established in 1905 by the Sisters
of St. Joseph. These sisters have a convenient and beautiful
piece of property on Houston avenue and conduct there a school
for girls and young ladies.
Catholic fraternal societies are represented in the city by a
court of the Catholic Order of Foresters, instituted in 1897, with
a membership of over fifty, and a Council of the Knights of Co
lumbus, instituted in 1907, with a membership of about 125.
First Presbyterian Church of Crookston was organized July
9, 1882, with fifteen members. C. H. Mix, Esq., was unanimously
chosen as ruling elder by Presbytery of the Red River. H. C.
Baskeville, was the first pastor ; came from New York.
The original records were destroyed or lost. July, 1883, Rev.
Baskeville was called away from his work to Fort Worth, Texas.

CROOKSTON 899
In packing up his effects, by mistake he packed up the session
record book, and after arriving at Fort Worth there was a fire,
and in this way the first records were lost.
The rotary system of elders was adopted. Major Mix was
the first ruling elder ordained at that meeting and installed by
a committee appointed by Presbytery of the Red River, Rev.
John Nevin, assisted by Rev. H. C. Baskeville. The charter mem
bers are as follows : C. H. Mix, Helen P. Mix (died March 13,
1885), Cassie Mix, C. F. Mix, W. R. Dunn, Mrs. W. R. Dunn, Emma
Baskeville, Isabella Daugherty, Adaline Daugherty. By letter,
Mrs. Daugherty, Mrs. McKenzie, Mrs. Finlayson, Mrs. Cohoon,
Mrs. A. Palmer, David Huggard, Miss E. and Mrs. R. Huggard,
Samuel Huggard, Robert Towers, Mrs. N. N. Markham.
Major C. H. Mix, of Crookston, has been clerk ever since the
organization. The first services were held on the corner of
Broadway and Rolph streets. The pastors have been as follows :
Rev. Baskeville, 1882-83 ; second, Rev. R. R. Adams, 1883-84 ; third,
Rev. Gordon, served six months in 1885; 0. H. Elmer, 1886-93;
fourth, H. McClern, served three months in 1884 ; fifth, C. H. Pulton
served three months; sixth, Rev. F. L. Fraser, 1894-98; seventh,
T. W. Fraser, 1898-02 ; eighth, Donald McKenzie, 1902-05 ; ninth,
Rev. Williard S. Ward, 1905 — present pastor in 1909. The mem
bership for 1909 is 167. Receipts of the Ladies' Aid Society,
$1,361.03, for 1909 is in the bank, and set aside for furnishing the
church. Methodist Episcopal Church of Crookston was organized Octo
ber 12, 1879. Rev. C. B. Brecount, pastor. First services held in
Crookston were held in what was known as Losey's Hall. The
first church is now used as Garvick's meat market, opposite the
Cleveland Hotel.
Rev. Brecount served until October 13, 1880, and has been
succeeded by J. W. Clipper, October 13, 1880, to October, 1882;
A. W. Edwards, appointed October 10, 1882, to October, 1883;
J. F. Ziegler, October, 1883, to May, 1884 ; J. C. Gullett, October
13, 1884, to October, 1886 ; M. N. Baker, October 12, 1886-87 ; J. J.
Edwards, October 23, 1887-88; C. R. Kellerman, May, 1888, to
October, 1888 ; C. T. Sharpe, October 15, 1888, to October 5, 1891 ;
J. J. Edwards, October 5, 1891, to July 31, 1892 ; Lee W. Squier,

900 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
August 1, 1892, to October 6, 1895; William Hanson, October 6,
1895, to October 5, 1896 ; J. E. Houlgate, October 5, 1896, to Octo
ber, 1898 ; A. E. Rowson, October, 1898 ; C. S. L. Lathvan, October,
1899, served one year ; F. A. Ganson, October 1900-01 ; George E.
Satterlee, October, 1901-06 ; A. B. Buekner, October, 1906 ; Thomas
E. Green, 1907; Francis M. McCoy, 1908, is the present pastor.
The official board of the church was Andrew Hanson and wife,
Adalaide Harris, William Hurst and wife, Edward Hurst and
wife. Charter members : Christene Hanson, October 26, 1879 ;
MatheAv Knedy, July, 1879 ; Hattie Laterman, November, 1879 ;
Hannah Morris, November 2, 1879; Amanda Messick, November
2, 1879 ; H. Bradshaw, October, 1879 ; Ellsworth D. Childs, Sep
tember 12, 1879 ; Elias Phillips, 1879 ; Sarah Bardsley, July, 1880 ;
William H. Bailey, August, 1880; Alvira Baker, December, 1880;
Peter Burnett, 1880 ; Samuel Crookshank and wife, 1880 ; William
Cunningham and wife, Priscilla Cunningham, 1880; Robert Cor
coran, 1880 ; A. M. Childs, 1880 ; Matilda L. Cochrane, 1880 ; Mary
Kent, 1880 ; Christoph Kern, 1880 ; John Morris, 1880 ; Avis Mar
tin, 1880 ; Alexander McGregor and wife, 1880 ; E. B. Odell, 1880 ;
M. S. Odell, 1880 ; Jennie Paul, 1880 ; John Ralston, 1880 ; Fred
erick Smith and wife and daughter Mary, 1880; C. G. Simmons,
1880 ; Charles W. Sanford and wife, 1880 ; Hannah Watts, 1880 ;
Marion Webb, 1880 ; J. C. Waldron and wife, 1880 ; Williard Will
iams, 1880; Anna P. Watson, 1880; C. W. Webster and wife and
daughter, 1880; Rev. S. M. Webster, P. Elder, Martha Webster,
1880. October, 1879, the Methodist Episcopal church quarterly meet
ing for the Red River district was held at Losey's hall Sunday
morning at nine o'clock; Rev. J. B. Starky, presiding elder, pre
siding at the morning service, and the Rev. C. Brecount in the
evening. The present Methodist Episcopal church was formerly used as
a roller skating rink and as a theatre, at that time located where
the excavation for a federal building is now going on. This
building was removed in 1905 to its present location near the cor
ner of Ash and Fletcher streets. The parsonage adjoins the
church, which is on the corner.

CROOKSTON 901
In October, 1908, Rev. F. M. McCoy was called to the pastorate
of this church. The building had undergone some marked im
provements and a reopening service was held the first Sunday of
his work. A few things at least which followed are worthy of
special mention. A new system of work was inaugurated for the
benefit of the visitors and strangers who attended the services.
A Men 's Club was organized, with Prof. William Robertson, presi
dent, and Mr. J. W. Newberry, secretary. A Boy's Club was
also organized, with Harry Nicholson, president, and Aaron Fel-
sing, secretary. The facilities for worship were augmented in
March by the purchase of 200 new hymnals. The State Sunday
School Convention, which was held in the church in May, gave
impetus to the work in numbers added and interest manifested.
May 2 was a notable day in the history of the church, when
forty-six joined its ranks. With strong, consecrated men and
women in places of responsibility and a large and devoted follow
ing of people and true, this church bids fair to be a very important
factor in shaping the future of city and county along ways that
lead to righteous living, where "man to man shall brother be."
The present officials are : G. H. Wright, president ; C. F. Car
penter, secretary and treasurer; J. W. Wheeler, J. F. Ingersol,
B. D. Keck, J. C. Sathre, Byron Crowe, A. M. Childs, F. E. Mc
Gregor and Prof. William Robertson.
Episcopal Church. — First Episcopal services held October 31,
1879, in Losey's hall. The first minister was Rev. William Cur-
rie, who was a rector in Grand Forks and served this mission at
Crookston. He was succeeded by Samuel Currie, his brother.
The next minister was the Rev. Fortier; the next was Rev. Kite
and then Rev. Greene ; the latter served ten years, succeeded by
the present pastor, Rev. Cox. The wardens of the church are
¦Lorenzo Davis, C. E. Brown; vestrymen, Luther Palmer and
Charles E. Potts and Fred Walker. The first cost of the church,
$2,200. The ground where the building is now located was donated by
Mrs. Lorin Fletcher. The building was donated under a contract
by M. R. Brown as follows: To keep up perpetual service, and
seats free, insured, and out of debt. Judge Davis Brower drew up
the contract. The early members of the church were : M. R. Brown,

902 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Judge Brower, W. D. Hulburt, W. E. Hartshorn, John Crowe,
E. M. Walsh, George Peak.
Hauges Lutheran Church. — "Hauges Minde" of "Hauges Nor
wegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod," Crookston, Minn., was or
ganized in 1887. In the fall of the year 1889 a church was built,
located at the corner of Hunter and Hurlbut streets in Crookston.
The church's first pastor, who served until 1890, was Rev. Bers-
vend Anderson. From 1890 until 1894 Rev. M. J. Westphal was
in charge of the church. He was succeeded by Rev. M. G. Hanson,
who served until 1898. Upon his resignation, Rev. J. T. Krog-
stad was called to serve temporarily. His work in the church
extended over a period of about two years. When Krogstad was
unable to serve as pastor of the church, Rev. 0. Anderson was
called to take up the work. In 1903 Rev. A. J. Krogstad was
called to take up the pastorate of the church. His connection
with the church Avas severed January 1, 1908. Rev. O. F. John
son was called as his successor and took up the work February
1, 1908. The congregation has had its ups and downs through the years
it has existed. The greatest handicap the church has experienced
is that it has had but two resident pastors with the exception of
Rev. Johnson, the other pastors having served the church in con
nection with other calls ; hence the work has not been efficient,
and it has not progressed as it otherAvise would have done. The
membership has varied at the different times. New members have
been added to the enrolment while others have removed and
hence left the church. The present membership is about 100.
The future outlook is very encouraging, perhaps more so than
at any other time in the history of the church.
Our Savior Church of the Synod for the Norwegian Evan
gelical Lutheran church of America, of Crookston, Minn., was
formally organized by Rev. O. P. Vangsness, then of Minneapolis,
Minn., August 28, 1889. Church work had previous to this date,
though, been carried on. The first trustees were : O. P. Sawyer,
Andrew Sanders and Andrew Eiken.
The church has been served by the following pastors: Rev.
O. P. Vangsness, 1889; Rev. P. T. Hilmen, October 30, 1889-97;
Rev. 0. Andalsrud, August 18, 1898, until September 24, 1899;

CROOKSTON 903
Rev. Albert Quammen, 1900 until August 4, 1901; Rev. 0. An-
dalsrud, August 18, 1901, until November 29, 1903. The present
pastor, Rev. Adolph Salverson, was installed May 22, 1904.
The present board of trustees consists of the following mem
bers : H. B. Tveden, Chris M. Tveden, Isaac Knudson, S. H. Ling-
holm, N. P. Stenshoel. The present officers of the congregation
are as follows : Rev. Adolph Salverson, president ; Chris M.
Tveden, vice president; O. 0. Christianson, secretary; H. B.
Tveden, treasurer.
First Congregational Church of Crookston, Minn. — What is
now the First Congregational church of Crookston was organized
as Christ's church on the 6th day of February, 1878. This was
a union church made up of members of several different denomina
tions. The first pastor, so far as the records now attainable dis
close, was Rev. F. H. Smith, who commenced work on the 8th of
June, 1878, and remained one year. He was succeeded by Rev.
S. H. Barteau, whose service began on October 23, 1879, and
lasted until March 9, 1882. The first trustees of the Christ's
church were C. S. Spendley, Frank Bivins and N. G. Jennings.
On November 27, 1879, these trustees purchased for the use of
the church the lot upon the corner of Ash and Third streets, op
posite the Central school building, where the Congregational
church now stands. The first services, however, were held in
what was then known as "Lawrence Hall," upstairs on Main
street. During the pastorate of the Rev. S. H. Barteau the union
church was dissolved and the First Congregational church of
Crookston was organized. This was December 21, 1879. The
church was incorporated as the First Congregational church of
Crookston, with Charles S. Spendley, Frank Bivins and Gilbert
N. Jennings as trustees, on the 25th day of March, 1880.
The pastors of the church succeeding Mr. Barteau were the fol
lowing in the order named :
Rev. Thomas J. West, whose pastorate was very short, lasting
only from March, 1882, to July, 1882. He was followed by Rev.
C. E. Page, whose pastorate ended in November, 1885. Rev. W.
H. Medler was pastor from March, 1886, to March, 1889, and was
succeeded by Rev. J. G. Smith, who remained for a year or two.
The longest pastorate of the church was that of Rev. Herman P.

904 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Fisher, who succeeded J. G. Smith and remained for nearly ten
years. Under the administration of Mr. Fisher the church at
tained greater strength, financial and otherwise, than it had
acquired previously in its history. Mr. Fisher was succeeded in
the pastorate by Rev. E. S. Shaw, who remained for two years
and gave place to Rev. J. P. Dickerman, whose term lasted for
not quite one year. In August, 1908, the present pastor, Rev.
C. C. Warner, was recognized by council.
The work of this church has always been in the front of the
moral and religious work of the city. The church building was
erected in the year 1884, during the pastorate of Rev. C. E. Page,
and was the same size as the church is at present, excepting that
it had no basement. In 1898, during the pastorate of Rev. E. S.
Shaw, the church was substantially rebuilt, a basement finished
off underneath the whole of the church, which contains the steam
heating plant, ladies' kitchen, dining room, library and parlors.
During the same year a pipe organ, manufactured by the Hook-
Hastings Company of Boston, Mass., was installed in the church
this being the first pipe organ in the city of Crookston, or Polk
county. The remodeling of the church at this time was done a1
an expense of between six and seven thousand dollars, and the
church property is now worth in the neighborhood of ten or
twelve thousand dollars. The building in the rear of the church
on Third street was placed there many years ago and was used
for a time as a parsonage. It still belongs to the church and is
occupied by tenants.
The present officers of the church are : Pastor, Rev. C. C.
Warner; trustees, A. A. Miller, N. P. Stone, Fred W. Hall, J. H.
Ruettell and S. W. Wheeler. The superintendent of the Sunday
school is Lucius S. Miller. The church maintains the usual socie
ties in connection with the organization of Protestant churches.
and is, without doubt, the best equipped of any of the churches
in the city so far as its church building is concerned.
Major Charles H. Mix was born in New Haven, Conn., De
cember 30, 1833, son of Charles E. and Catharine (Upperman)
Mix. He received a good education in private schools and a pri
vate tutor at home. In 1849 he entered college at Georgetown,
D. C, where he spent one year. Then under private tutor at

CROOKSTON 905
home, giving most of his attention to civil engineering and draw
ing. May 1, 1852, arriving in St. Paul, Minn., that time a few
settlers in this territory, and the capital a small village. From
there he moved to Long Prairie, Minn., then the agency for the
Winnebago Indians, where he clerked for two years. On his trip
to this part of the country he came by rail some ten miles west
of Chicago, as far as the cars then ran, and balance of the way
by stage. In the winter of 1853 he made a trip to his native land,
staging it from St. Paul to Prairie du Chien, from that point by
rail. In the autumn of 1854 was appointed secretary of Willis A.
Gorman, then governor of the territory, and removed to St. Paul ;
that same year was appointed to take the Chippewas of Red Lake
and Pembina to Washington. The Indians refused to go. He had
many experiences with them. In the spring of 1855 he was sent
to transfer the Indians at Long Prairie to the new agency in Blue
Earth county. In 1856 established himself as an Indian trader
at that point. In 1858 received the appointment of government
agent of that agency, and continued in office until 1861. At that
time he engaged in claim business, settling government claims,
etc. While thus engaged, the Sioux uprising began, in August,
1862. Mr. Mix among others enlisted in Company A, First In
dependent Battalion Minnesota Volunteer Cavalry and commis
sioned as first lieutenant. That year he started with the com
mand of the north and west toward Pembina. At that time the
outpost of civilization was at Georgetown, on the Red river, and
here the troops crossed the stream and marched north on the
Dakota side. They wintered at Pembina, and in the spring of
1864 removed to Port Abercrombie, where Captain Mix was com
mandant of the post until the following fall. In the spring of
1865 he was ordered to St. Paul to sit on a court martial, and
when that disbanded was appointed assistant inspector general
for the third civil district, with headquarters at Fort Ridgley.
During the winter of 1866-67 he received the appointment of
assistant adjutant general on the staff of General John N. Corse,
who had his headquarters at St. Paul. After retirement of that
officer Captain Mix was transferred to the staff of General Alex
ander at Fort Snelling, with the same rank. He remained with

906 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
the latter officer until June, 1867, Avhen he was mustered out and
honorably discharged from the service.
Then he returned to St. Paul, where he engaged in farming
until 1877 ; that year entered the employ of the St. Paul, Minne
apolis & Manitoba Railroad, as a clerk in the freight department
at St. Paul; in September, 1879, was appointed as station agent
for the same corporation at Crookston. During 1863-64, in win
ter quarters at Pembina, he was selected by the commanding offi
cer to go to Fort Garry, now Winnipeg, and confer with Little
Crow's band of Indians. Some 150 surrendered to him and were
sent to Rock Island. He also took Little Six and Medicine Bottle,
two noted chiefs, from Pembina to Fort Snelling, where they were
hung in the spring of 1864. He acted as a guide to a trader of
St. Paul, August, 1862, who was returning to Yellow Medicine,
where he was wanted as a witness to any conversation between
the Indian agent and trader. On the way to Port Ridgeley they
met the messenger carrying the news of the outbreak to the gov
ernor, but pushed on, reaching the fort by sun down, just as the
Indians were retreating. They were noticed by the Indians and
chased about sixteen miles, when they met Sibley's column at St.
Peter and returned to Fort Ridgeley with him. A few days after
he went out to bury the dead at Birch Covley, and helped to inter
some sixty victims of that bloody massacre. In company with
Justice Ramsey and Joe Bassett, he was appointed as commis
sioner to locate what is known as White Earth Reservation for
the Chippewas, and to appraise the value of the old Sioux Reser
vation between Red Wood Falls and Big Stone Lake.
He was also one of the delegation who took the Sioux dele
gation to Washington to make the treaty for their reservation,
the others being J. R. Brown and Benjamin Thompson. While at
the national capital he was appointed special agent to take sup
plies to the destitute Indians of the Sioux reservation, and re
mained with that tribe some six months.
N. Anthony Thorson, county superintendent of schools of
Polk county, Minnesota, was born December 22, 1881, in Nicollet
county, Minnesota, on the county poor farm, of which his father
was then superintendent.

CROOKSTON 907
(Benson) Thorson. They raised five children, of whom N. An
thony was the second in order of birth. In 1887 he removed with
his parents to Winthrop, Minn., where they followed the occupa
tion of farming, and, like most farmers' boys, he attended the
district school. His parents, desiring to give him a good educa
tion, in the fall of 1898, then in his seventeenth year, sent him to
St. Peter to attend college there. He began his preparatory work
in the academic department of Gustavus Adolphus College, mak
ing rapid progress and completing the course. In 1900 he entered
the Gustavus Adolphus College proper, graduating with the class
of 1904 with the degree of A. B., and the last year represented
the college in the intercollegiate oratorical contest, which was
held at Hamlin University in the spring of 1904. That same sum
mer he represented his state in the inter-state contest held in
Springfield, 111., but his opponent being a young lady, won out.
And so the college days of Mr. Thorson were full of work
aside from his studies. He was the favorite quarterback in the
football team ; also devoted considerable time to music, being the
tenor in the choir, and was active in literary societies. In the
fall of 1904 he came to Crookston unexpectedly, where he taught
four years in the science department of the high school, having
charge of the athletic work. He still continues his choir work
as tenor in all the churches of Crookston, and is connected with
the city band. He is a member of the Lutheran church.
Mr. Thorson was elected to his present position as superin
tendent of schools of Polk county in the fall of 1908, since which
time he has served with due credit to himself and the office.

CHAPTER XLI.
WILKIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
By
Edward Ballentine.
Wilkin county is the southernmost county of the Red River
valley proper on the Minnesota side, although Traverse county to
the south is included in the territory draining into the Red river.
Its early history is essentially the same as that of all the other
counties of the valley. It was organized March 18, 1858, with
Breckenridge as its county seat and given the name of Toombs
county. Its territory was then described as "beginning at the
junction of the Bois des Sioux river with the Red River of the
North; thence down the main channel of said river on the boun
dary line of this state fifteen miles ; thence in a line due east to
the Pelican river; thence down the said river to its intersection
with the Otter Tail river or Red River of the North ; thence in a
line due south to the Chippewa river; thence in a direct line to
the mouth of Lake Traverse; thence down the main channel of
the Bois des Sioux river, on the boundary line of this state, to
the place of beginning. The county seat of said county is hereby
located at Breckenridge."
On March 10, 1860, the law defining the boundaries of the
county was amended so as to include the territory of the county
as now constituted, with the addition of range forty-four, which
was afterwards detached from Wilkin county and annexed to
Ottertail county. The county was named Toombs in honor of
Senator Toombs of Georgia, who, on the breaking out of the War
of the Rebellion, cast in his lot with the seceding states and be-
908

WILKIN COUNTY 909
came secretary of state for the Confederacy, which so displeased
the people of Wilkin county that in 1862 they petitioned the legis
lature to change the name of the county to Andy Johnson, and in
1863 the act changing the name from Toombs to Andy Johnson
became a law. But the subsequent political attitude of Andrew
Johnson was no less displeasing to the people, and in 1868 the
law was again amended and the name changed from Andy John
son to Wilkin, in honor of Colonel Wilkin, of the Eighth Minne
sota Regiment. It is presumed that the name Wilkin was selected
for the reason that Colonel Wilkins had made a distinguished
record for himself as a soldier during the Civil War and being
then deceased, any subsequent behavior on his part could not
bring disgrace upon the county.
The feasibility of water communication for Breckenridge south
up the Bois des Sioux and Lake Traverse and by canal to Big
Stone lake, thence down the Minnesota river to the Mississippi,
early attracted the attention of those engaged in transportation,
and in the winter of 1819-20 a delegation from the Pembina Col
ony was sent to Prairie du Chene, Wis., to purchase seed grain.
On April 15 they loaded about 250 bushels of wheat, oats and
peas on batteaux and passed up the Mississippi to the mouth of
the Minnesota river; thence up the Minnesota to its source in
Big Stone lake; up Big Stone lake to its source, and across a
portage of a mile and a half to Lake Traverse. From there the
remainder of the trip was made entirely by water without any
serious labor or difficulty, through Lake Traverse, down the Bois
des Sioux and the Red river, reaching the Pembina settlement on
June 3. This is believed to be the only instance of merchandise
being conveyed from the Mississippi river by an all-water route,
with the exception of a mile and a half portage between lakes
Traverse and Big Stone, to the Red river, and proves the perfect
feasibility of an all-water route from Breckenridge north to Hud
son bay and south to the Gulf of Mexico whenever the population
of the Red River valley becomes sufficiently dense to justify it.
Breckenridge.
Breckenridge was the first permanent settlement made in
Wilkin county. The town site of Breckenridge was laid out by

910 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Henry T. Welles in 1858. The original plat comprised all the
present site of Breckenridge, together with what is now known as
the Park Addition, and included all of sections five and eight on
the Minnesota side of the river, together with a part of sections
four and nine. Mr. Welles obtained his title from Angeline
Lagree, Mary R. Marlow and Angelique Martin, half-breed In
dians, who filed original entries August 20, 1859, on all of the
land excepting lots six and seven in section nine, which Mr. Welles
filed on, October 31, 1864. At about the time Mr. Welles platted
the townsite of Breckenridge a large hotel was built in what is
now Park Addition, together with a saw mill and other buildings.
Fort Abercrombie, fifteen miles north, on the Dakota side, was
buiit the same year that Breckenridge was platted.
Breckenridge was destroyed by the Indians in 1862. "On the
23d of August, 1862, the Indians commenced hostilities in the
valley of the Red River of the North. About this time officers of
the government were on their Avay with a train of some thirty
wagons, loaded Avith goods and attended by about 200 head of
cattle, toward the lodge of the Red Lake Chippewas, to conclude
a treaty with these tribes. They had arrived, about this time,
in the neighborhood of the fort. On the morning of the 23d of
August word Avas brought to the commander of Fort Abercrombie
that a band of 500 Sioux had crossed the Ottertail river with the
intention of cutting off and capturing the train and cattle. Word
was sent at once to the train to come into the fort, which they
quickly did. Messengers were also sent to Breckenridge, Old
Crossing, Graham's Point, and all the principal settlements, tell
ing the people to flee to the fort, as the garrison was too small
to do much else than defend that post, and could not afford pro
tection to the scattered villages or settlers in the vicinity. The
great majority of the settlers paid heed to the warning and the
same evening the most of them had arrived at the fort and had
been assigned such quarters as could be furnished them. Most,
if not all, of these dwelt upon the east side of the river, in Min
nesota, as but few settlers had then located on the west side, south
of Pembina. Several men, among them being a Mr. Russell, however, pre
ferred to stay at Breckenridge, and took possession of the hotel

WILKIN COUNTY 911
building and therein undertook to defend themselves and their
property, but foolishly threw away their lives in the attempt.
On the evening of the same day a scouting party of six men
moved over in the direction of Breckenridge from the fort and
found that the place was in the hands of a large body of Indians.
The little party were seen and pursued, but being mounted, Avhile
the Indians were afoot, they escaped.
The detachment that had been stationed at Georgetown was
ordered to rejoin at once. On the 24th a reeonnoisanee was made
toward Breckenridge by a detachment, and the place was found
deserted by the Indians. The bodies of the three men who had
undertaken its defense were discovered, horribly mutilated.
When found, chains were bound upon their ankles, by which they
had been dragged around until life had fled. An old settler in
the neighborhood, Nick Huffman, who was in the fort at the
time, in speaking of this expedition, says:
"While the boys were engaged in burying the remains, they
thought they could see an Indian in the saw mill, so Rounseval, a
half-breed, Avent to see if that was the case. The mill was half
a mile away. Pie found an old lady by the name of Scott who
had been living with her son. Her son was killed and her grand
son taken prisoner. She had a bullet wound in her breast and
had crawled on her hands and knees sixteen miles to the mill.
She also told the boys where they would find the body of Joe
Snell, a stage driver, three miles from Breckenridge. They buried
the body of Snell and took the old lady to the fort. On the way
in, the Indians attacked them and killed the teamster, named
Bennett, and came Arery near taking Captain Mull's wagon con
taining the old lady. But Rounseval made a charge and brought
back the team, the old lady and the body of Bennett. They buried
Scott the next day. ' '
The mail taken in the stage coach, spoken of above, was taken
from the sacks and scattered about the prairies, but much of it
was gathered up by the detachment, which was under the com
mand of Judge McCauley. (Presumably David McCauley, an old
settler of McCauleyviUe.)
After the destruction of old Breckenridge and until the com
ing of the railroad in 1871, there appears to have been practically

912 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
no immigration to Wilkin county, and as late as 1880 only a very
small part of the county was occupied by settlers, and the whiten
ing skeletons of slaughtered buffalo thickly dotted the prairie.
The St. Paul and Pacific railroad was completed to Breckenridge
in the fall of 1871. Among the earliest settlers attracted to
Breckenridge by the completion of the railroad were Edward R.
Hyser, Peter Hanson, Ransom Phelps, DeWilmot Smith, Jonathan
E. Pettit and a few others. Mr. Hyser conducted a hotel in a
building provided by the railroad company, until early in the
eighties, when he became the owner and proprietor of a hotel of
his own which, until near the close of the century, was the leading
hotel of Breckenridge and the county. This building was de
stroyed by fire in December, 1908. Mr. Hanson was in the mer
cantile business and grain buying. In a few years after the
advent of the railroad, Breckenridge grew to be a village of con
siderable importance and was the first village organized in Wilkin
county. In 1877 Fort Abercrombie was abandoned and dismantled, and
the following year the buildings were sold and scattered among
the early settlers who built houses and barns of the material.
Peter Hanson purchased the building that had served as officers'
quarters and removed the same to the corner of Fifth street and
Minnesota avenue in Breckenridge, where he conducted a general
store until he sold his stock of merchandise to Miksche & Vertin
in 1890. The old building, constructed from the building pur
chased from the government at Abercrombie, is now the hall of
the Knights of Pythias at the corner of Fifth street and Nebraska
avenue. The first farm in Wilkin county opened up as a residence farm
is believed to be the farm of the late Edward Connelly on the Red
river, about six miles north of Breckenridge. Mr. Connelly set
tled on this farm in 1868. It is now occupied by his son, Edward
Connelly. With Breckenridge as the county seat at the extreme border
of a county about twenty-five miles wide, the fear of a possible
removal of the county seat to a more central location as the county
became more thickly settled, induced persons interested in Breck
enridge real estate to interest Fergus Palls, similarly situated as

WILKIN COUNTY 913
the county seat of Ottertail county, in a scheme to transfer Range
44 to Ottertail county, thus producing a better territorial balance
for both counties, and so lessen the danger of a change in location
of the county seats. The scheme was quietly worked through the
legislature in the seventies, and Wilkin was robbed of seven of
her most valuable toAvnships, consisting of about one-fourth of her
entire territory, to enrich Ottertail, leaving Wilkin with about
iwenty-one townships and Ottertail sixty-two. But it balanced
the counties better with reference to the county seats and allayed
the fears of owners of Breckenridge and Fergus Falls real estate.
An attempt was made a few years after to recover these seven
townships for Wilkin county, but failed for some reason unknown
to the writer, and no doubt Ottertail 's possession has ripened into
a vested right, Avhich the courts will not now disturb.
Like most western counties, Wilkin passed through her sea
son of graft, beginning with the building of the courthouse, which
was finished in December, 1882, and January 1, 1883, was set for
removing the records and installing the offices therein. But on
the night before, fire broke out in the old wooden building on
Minnesota avenue, owned by Phelps & Smith, which held the
county offices and county records, completely destroying the
building and practically all the records of the auditor's office,
including all evidence of the actual cost of the courthouse, and
the county found itself the owner of a building worth about
$20,000 at a cost popularly believed to be approximately $40,000.
The people goodnaturedly set about preparing to pay the debt
by establishing a sinking fund for the payment of the bonds as
they became due. But after paying into the sinking fund about
$1,800 in about twelve years, it was discovered that every dollar
of the fund had been diverted to other purposes, leaving the debt
of about $38,000 still intact. In 1897 a movement was inaugurated
that effectually put a stop to grafting. The revenues of the
county were applied to their legitimate purposes, and in 1905 the
last vestige of the county debt was wiped out, in which condi
tion it has remained ever since, except that the credit of the
county is back of about $200,000 of ditch bonds which are being
paid off at the rate of about $10,000 a year by a tax on the lands
benefited.

914 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
The Fergus Falls division of the St. Paul, Minneapolis and
Manitoba Railroad (now the Great Northern) passing through
the northeast corner of Wilkin county, was built in 1879, and
completed so the first trains were run in November of that year.
The present village of Rothsay was one of the new towns created
by this line, and is located on the extreme east line of our county.
The station was located on the homestead of Christen Tanberg,
for whom the township was afterwards named, and the first town-
site was owned and platted by Mr. Tanberg and called by his
name, but the railroad company named the station Rothsay.
The first building in Rothsay was built by one Gilbertson, and
was operated as a saloon. The first merchant and postmaster of
the town was A. B. Pedersen, who commenced business there late
in the fall of 1879. The town of Manston, located on the St.
Vincent extension of the old St. Paul and Pacific, ten miles west
of Rothsay, had been the grain market for the country north and
east of this line to the Pelican river. The new line and the neAV
town of Rothsay sounded the death knell of Manston. Prac
tically the whole town and its business was moved to Rothsay,
and later even the railroad was abandoned between Breckenridge
and Barnesville, and all there was left of Manston was the post
master. The elevators at Rothsay were not completed so as to
receive grain until late in the winter of 1879-80, and until this
time the grain was hauled to Manston. This winter was a very
severe one, with a great deal of snow. A farmer near Rothsay,
Ole Tokerud, was caught in one of these blizzards returning
home with his team and sleigh from Manston and frozen to death.
During the same blizzard the late H. G. Stordock nearly lost his
life. Mr. Stordock was the grain buyer at Manston and its most
prominent citizen and an old soldier and settler. He lived on his
homestead about a mile out of Manston. Late on Saturday even
ing, he started for his homestead in the raging blizzard, walking
and carrying a lantern. He wore a fur coat (which was not very
common those days), but his gloves and shoes were thin and he
had a plug hat on his head. This proved to be his first trouble,
for it blew off, and trying to recover it his lantern blew out and
he lost his bearings. He continued walking all night Saturday,
all Sunday and Sunday night until Monday morning, when he

WILKIN COUNTY 915
Avas discovered about ten miles southeast of Manston. The storm
had then abated, but it Avas extremely cold. When found he was
unconscious. His hands and feet were badly frozen as well as his
face, and his life Avas despaired of for many months. Gradually
he recovered, crippled, with amputated limbs and a badly disfig
ured face. The endurance and suffering of this man for this
length of time is almost without parallel and beyond comprehen
sion. Mr. Stordock Avas a determined and doggedly persistent
man by nature, as well as strong and rugged in constitution up to
that time, Avhich may explain in a measure his surviving the
ravages of the blizzard. He lived for many years afterwards and
was a leading citizen of the county, politically and otherwise.
Other early settlers and business men at Rothsay were 0. G.
Felland and 0. E. Juvrud.
Prom 1871 to 1879, Campbell station in the southern part of
the county, was the grain market for the township of Western
and Fergus Falls and other settlements of Otter Tail county for
forty miles east, but until 1878, no attempt was made to settle up
the "Campbell Flats" so called. In that year, through the
manipulation of J. J. Hill, and Jessie P. Farley the bonds of the
St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Company, now the Great Northern,
had fallen to 26 cents on the dollar. These bonds were receivable
at par in payment for the lands of the company at $6.00 per
acre, a net cash price to the purchaser of $1.56 per acre. H. S.
Hogobom, AVilbur F. Carle, Levi B. Carle, John Roberts, John
Heath, of Janesville, Wis., and William Cross, Robert Cross and
J. W. Cross, of Winneconnie, Wis., and Robert Glover and others
from other parts of Wisconsin, bought these bonds and came to
Campbell in the early summer of 1878 to select lands from the
railroad grant. R. H. Wellington, at that time connected with
the land department of the St. Paul & Pacific, learning the in
tention of these gentlemen to purchase land in the vicinity of
Campbell, secured from the company an option on all the rail
road land in the county south of Breckenridge and exacted from
the purchasers a bonus of about $.40 per acre, making the price
to these first settlers $2.00 per acre. These gentlemen succeeded
in breaking a few hundred acres in the early summer of 1878,
which was the first land broken in the southern portion of the

916 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
county. Many more settlers came in during 1878 and 1880, but
a series of three wet years followed, which checked immigration
for several years.
The township of Campbell was organized and the first election
of town officers was held late in the fall of 1879, and included all
of the county south of Township 132. The townships of Brand-
rup, Bradford and Champion were afterwards carved out of this
territory. The surface of Wilkin county closely resembles that of the
other counties of the Red River Valley. With the exception of
a small portion on the eastern side, it is a level plain broken
only occasionally by rivers and coulies that excellently serve
the purpose of drainage. There is no other part of the world
so well adapted to farming with so little waste land. Before
the settlement of the county, its reputation as a region suitable
for settlement depended upon the character of the season in
which the explorer viewed it. One person having seen the county
in a wet season, reported that it would never be of any value for
agricultural purpose ; others, seeing the country in normal or dry
seasons, saw one of the most beautiful and promising regions
for agricultural settlement that could be found on the continent,
a surface in which the farmer could start his plow and continue
in the same direction without a break for miles, with a climate
which, for health and maturity of all crops grown in the
temperate regions, could not be excelled.
Much of the central and eastern parts of the county is flat,
deficient in natural drainage features and until recently subject
to disastrous overflows from the hills of Ottertail county, which
in seasons of excessive rain fall, would totally destroy the crops
of many farms, and the occupation of farming in that part of
the county was rendered extremely hazardous. A few years ago
a comprehensive system of drainage was undertaken and about
150 miles have been completed. Judicial Ditch No. 3 conducts
all the surplus water from the Otter Tail hills into the Otter Tail
river before it reaches the "flats" of our county, and this part
of the county is noAV as reliable for all farming operations as the
best drained part. Nearly a hundred miles more of ditching is
under way or in contemplation, which, when completed, will

WILKIN COUNTY 917
render every portion of the county practically immune from
damage to crops from standing water.
The present population of the county is about 9,000 made up
of the choicest elements of about ten different nationalities. Of
the foreign born population, the Scandinavians predominate.
Transportation facilities are excellent. The Great Northern,
Northern Pacific, Milwaukee and Soo Roads give the county
easy access to all the grain and stock markets of the Northwest,
being situated about an equal distance from Duluth and the
twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Tenney, Nashua, Campbell, Doran, Foxhome and Rothsay are
incorporated villages; Wolverton, Childs and Everdell are grow
ing hamlets destined to be thriving villages as soon as the sur
rounding county is well settled. Breckenridge is an incorporated
city with a well equipped sewer system, water works and electric
light plant, owned and operated by the city.
The county has seventy-three schools, and churches of nearly
every Christian denomination, conveniently located over the
county. The Breckenridge Public school is one of the best
equipped schools in the state with an attendance of between four
and five hundred pupils.
Mitchel Roberts. The history of Wilkin county would not
be complete without a special mention of this venerable pioneer
and his early experiences. He was born in New York state,
November 25, 1830, and is one of a family of navigators, the
seventh in order of birth — fifteen children — eleven sons and four
daughters. All the sons except one followed marine life. Mr.
Roberts' father, Jean Baptiste Roberts, was one of the first to
trade with the Indians under the English government. He
received consideration for his services in this northwest country
during the latter, part of the seventeenth century, and was
familiar with the Indian tongue, trading with them for furs,
etc. Pie was a pioneer at Rouses Point when the Indians were
numerous, and his Canadian home was Sorel (better known as
P. Q.), Quebec. He married Miss Catherine Letendre. He made
his escape from the Indians, and fled to New York state, where
he and his wife both died.
Mitchel Roberts, the principal subject of this sketch, began

918 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
life on a steamboat at the age of eight years, in New York City,
under a sea captain whose name he could not recall, and served
as an apprentice for eight years, a part of the time in the galley
as a cook. His trips were plying through Lake Champlain, via
Rouses Point to Montreal and Quebec and all ports on the way.
In 1847, when in his seventeenth year, he was commissioned as
captain of a boat owned by a Mr. Cooper, and after one year's
service, he built his first boat — Francis Moore — whieh he named
himself, and his second boat was the L. H. Devrick, a canal boat,
plying and touching all the ports on Lake Champlain and handled
all kinds of merchandise such as sugar, flour, etc., also lumber.
In 1855 he took a train at Troy, New York, for Prairie du Chien,
Wisconsin, and came from that point on the steamer Belle, to
St. Paul, Minnesota, taking seven days to make the trip on
account of the low water in the Mississippi. He had a cousin
there — Captain Louis Roberts, who owned two steamboats on the
Mississippi; he died in the 70's. On arriving in St. Paul, the city
was then all laid out in 10-acre lots at $250.00 per lot, and later
into 5-acre lots sold at the same price, and still later into lots at
same price, and so kept on increasing. The great flour mills of
Minneapolis were being constructed, and he helped to work
on these buildings. Pete Botteneau used to own the site of St.
Anthony and that island surrounding the Falls. He traded this
site for an old black horse, and the location today is worth
millions. Mr. Roberts lived in Minneapolis about one year when
he moved to Botteneau Prairie, north of Minneapolis, where he
erected the hotel and saloon known as the Roberts House. It
was opened just in time to celebrate Abe Lincoln's first election
as President of the United States, and his income that day was
over $300.00. Whisky was worth 15 cents and 16 cents per gal
lon, wholesale, and the best brandy and wine 50 cents. After
a few years, he sold this hotel and moved overland in a covered
wagon to Wright county, Minnesota, settled on a claim where
he erected a house of hewed logs 18x30, one and a half story,
and the Dustin family were his neighbors.
This takes us back to the time when Hannah Dustin was
murdered by the Sioux Indians, near Smith and Howard lakes.

WILKIN COUNTY 919
Little Crow's band used to camp every winter around Mr.
Roberts' cabin, about 300 in number. He was friendly with
them, understanding their language, and traded with them in
exchange for deer and furs. During his first few years, Mr.
Roberts did considerable trapping, in one three weeks he killed
sixty-eight coons, and has trapped as high as 150 mink, three
otters and as many as 1,000 muskrats in a season. Minks then
sold for $7.50 apiece; otter, $11.50; coons, $2.50, and muskrats
about 35 cents. His first trading point after he settled on his
claim, was about thirty-seven miles distant, and for two or three
years he was obliged to carry all his flour and provisions on his
back. Later Waverly opened up, and the family did their trad
ing at that point. At the time Mr. Roberts settled, only five or
six other parties came onto claims, and after locating his family,
he began exploring the country from Minneapolis to Hudson's
Bay under Captain Smith; they had a long train of wagons and
on the way they met Indians, buffalo, elk and deer. Their voyage
was interrupted by a herd of buffalo, and they were compelled
to part the train to allow the buffalo a chance to pass through;
the distance covered per day was eighteen miles. Winnipeg
was then a small hamlet, and their next trip was from Min
neapolis west to within six miles of Bismarck, and in about
1860 they reached the Rocky mountains. Here they encountered
thousands of Indians on the war path, covered with war paint,
naked and well armed. The great Pete Botteneau being one of
the explorers gave instructions to draw the wagons all into a
circle and unhitch, enclosing their horses. Pete Botteneau having
been a half-breed and an employee of the government for twenty
years, understood the different tribes, and after he made a
speech, he called the chief of the Sioux to speak. One can judge
how thick the Indians were when it took six barrels of crackers
to go around, only allowing one cracker to each warrior, also red
tobacco. Pete Botteneau 's speech brought peace, and the party
was never again bothered. He died at Red Lake Palls at the age
of ninety years ; his wife was a French-Canadian lady, a daugh
ter of Piere Jervais ; she died in the fall of 1908 at the age of
eighty years.

920 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
From the Rocky mountains, Chief Engineer W. D. Pate and
Colonel Crooks, in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company went through to Portland, Oregon. After getting
through exploring in the West, they returned to Minneapolis
and began staking out clear through to Breckenridge and
in 1867 explored the first line. Mr. Roberts was in
charge at Engineer's headquarters at Morris and Little
Falls. In 1875 he took up a claim with others in Section
34, Roberts township, on a quarter section; this land was gov
ernment reservation, bordering on the corner of Camp Aber
crombie, and later the township was named after him — Roberts
township. Pie bought three more quarters located in Sections 34,
35 and 27 — Roberts township, Wilkin county, and on his claim
he cut the timber to build his one and a half story block house
26x44, and on this quarter section, seventy-five acres Avere oak,
elm and hackberry. He cut as high as five and a half cords from
one yellow elm tree. When he broke his land, his first crop
was potatoes ; he broke forty acres first and then eighty acres,
and averaged from 300 to 400 bushels to the acre; one year's
average of wheat was thirty-seven bushels to the acre which sold
at $1.35 per bushel; oats sixty bushels to the acre and barley
forty bushels to the acre. This was in 1881. For one year Mr.
Roberts was engaged in building forts, the first Fort Totten, at
Devils lake, and the next was Fort Sisseton. In 1875 when he
settled sixteen miles north of Breckenridge, the only other set
tlers in that locality were his brother-in-law, Prank Lambert,
Bishop and Prody, actual farmers. He erected a dock fiAre miles
from his granary where the barge used to stop, then run by
Captain Kent. This was convenient for Mr. Roberts to dispose
of his wheat, wood, butter and eggs, which Avas shipped to Win
nipeg. This continued for about three years until the Avater
got too low.
Mr. Roberts was one of the charter members and organizers
of the McCauleyviUe Catholic church. His wife died on June
1, 1908, at the age of seventy-nine. He married the AvidoAV Mar-
garite Pilot. They had a family of six children all of whom
died with the smallpox on the farm, except one son, who now

WILKIN COUNTY 921
lives in Breckenridge. He also explored the lakes, and has
made birch bark canoes with which he had many adventures on
the lakes, about 1879. He was with Washburn exploring
Rainey, Red and Lietch lakes, Tammarac and Cedar. He crossed
Leiteh lake in a birch bark canoe seven feet wide, thirty feet
long, laden with tons of freight, iron, etc. Indians were in camp
at Caugaumaga falls, and he had many a perilous voyage. While
at Engineer headquarters at Morris, his boss's tent burned down
in his absence, and Mr. Roberts built a new one by hand which
surprised Mr. Morris.
He was indeed an all-round man.
Frank Lambert, Jr., enlisted in Ramsey county, North Dakota,
Company D, Colonel Hatch's battalion, in the fall of 1864. The
regiment started from Ft. Snelling, marched through where
there was eight inches of snow, and camped that winter at Pem
bina. This company was ordered to GeorgetoAvn, going through
in a boat in the spring of 1865. In the winter of that year, the
duty of Companies A, D, and C, at Ft. Abercrombie, was to
escort stage and United States mail from Alexandria, and their
trains were Red River carts with as high as 1,200 carts in line.
Twenty-five men were detailed to go 180 miles to Devils lake,
and take 300 Indians as prisoners from the Sioux tribe. They
brought them to Ft. Abercrombie where they were camped for
that winter. Spring and summer of 1866 was Sibley's expedi
tion; all the regiment went to Missouri, returning in the fall
and remained at Ft. Abercrombie. Frank Lambert, Jr., and com
rade, Ranville, were the dispatchers; while carrying dispatches
to Hudson bay stores, Russ's Point, Georgetown, was attacked by
the Indians, five of whom were mounted and five on foot, killing
two men. The soldiers reported the attack, and by the time they
returned, the Indians could be seen making their escape by
swimming the river. The trail was taken up and Lambert and
Ranville captured them on Maple river, after a chase of eight
days. When Captain Field and his nine privates perished in a
storm, Frank Lambert, Jr. and Comrade Ranville, were chosen to
form the searching party. They put on Indian snow shoes and

922 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
tramped from Fort Wadsworth thirty miles, when in the dis
tance two horses to all appearance looked as though they were
resting, but on closer observation, were found frozen to the
ground just as they stood. This was an 8-day march and nothing
but hard tack to eat. Captain Field and his men were found
just about ten miles outside of Ft. Abercrombie from where they
started.

CHAPTER XLII.
KITTSON COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
By
Edward Nelson.
The early history of the territory of what is now Kittson
county gathers around the fur trade carried on extensively in ,
the Northwest by various fur companies and traders. There is
nothmg known of the first trader in Kittson county beyond a
mere mention. As early as in 1789/uaptain Alexander Henry
established a trading post at Pembina for the Northwest Fur
Company. At that time he says there was a trading post just
across the river where St. Vincent now stands, kept by one Peter
Grant, but that this post was abandoned a year later.
Kittson county was created by an act of the legislature ap
proved February 25, 1879, with the following boundaries :
Beginning at a point where the line between townships 158
and 159 intersects the channel of the Red river of the north,
thence east along said line produced to the point where said
produced line intersects the line between ranges 38 and 39,
thence northwardly along said range line to the boundary line
between the United States and the British possessions, thence
westerly along said boundary line to the middle of the main
channel of the Red river of the north, thence up said river, along
the middle thereof, to the place of beginning.
Within these boundaries was included the western part of
what is now Roseau county.
The same act prescribed the boundaries of Marshall county,
our neighbor on the south and provided "that the counties
923

924 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
of Kittson and Marshall in this state, be and the same hereby are
declared to be organized counties, with all the rights, privileges
and immunities of other organized counties of this state."
The governor was authorized to appoint, within thirty days
of the passage of the above act, three qualified electors of the
county as commissioners who should meet within thirty days
See Laws Minn. 1878 Chap. 10 sec. 2.
after appointment and qualify and enter upon their duties as
such commissioners, their terms of office to be "until the next
general election and until their successors are elected and quali
fied." The commissioners appointed and qualified as above
were required "at their first meeting, or within twenty
days thereafter, by resolution, temporarily to locate the
county seat of said county and appoint qualified persons to fill
the county offices in said county except clerk of the district
court, who shall be appointed by the judge of said court; also
three justices of the peace and three constables, which persons so
appointed and having qualified shall hold their respective offices
until their successors are elected and qualified."
By an act approved February 27, i879, Kittson county was
detached from the county of Clay to the county of Polk for
judicial purposes.
The foregoing relates to the county of Kittson as most of us
know it. Its earlier history goes under the name of Pembina
county, which in the earliest maps is shown to extend from
where St. Louis county now has its western border to the Mis
souri river. The name was changed from Pembina to Kittson
by Chapter 59 of the laws of 1878.
See Chap. 46, sec. 1, Laws 1866.
Organization of Towns.
The township of Hampden Avas the first organized township.
It consists of congressional township No. 162 N., R. 49 W., and
was organized on July 28, 1879. The first toAvn meeting was held
August 12, 1879, at the house of Patrick Carrigan, on the south
east quarter of section No. 20 of the town.
The township of St. Vincent was organized March 19, 1880

EDWARD NELSON

KITTSON COUNTY 925
and consists of 163-50, and fractional townships 164-50, 164-51
and 163-51. The first town meeting was held April' 1, 1880.
The township of Hallock was organized August 2, 1880 and
consists of congressional township 161-49. The first town meet
ing was held August 18, 1880, in the hotel of the village of
Hallock. Red River, consisting of townships 161 and 160 N, R. 50 W.,
was organized January 5, 1881. The first town meeting was held
January 22, 1881, at Jonas Sandberg 's dwelling house.
Teien, organized April 5, 1882, consisting of fractional town
ship 159 N., R. 50 W., held its first town meeting at the house
of R, Solibakke, on April 24, 1882.
Davis was organized July 24, 1882 and consists of congres
sional township No. 159 N., R. 48 W. Its first town meeting was
held August 8, 1882, at the school house, on section No. 21.
Thompson, 161-48, was organized July 24, 1882 and held its
first town meeting at the house of Robert Thompson, August 8,
1882. Tegner, 160-48, was organized July 24, 1882 and held it first
town meeting at the store of H. W. Donaldson in Kennedy,
August 8, 1882.
Jupiter, 160-47, organized November 10, 1883 and held its first
town meeting, November 27, 1883, at the house of Carl Daniel-
son, on section 19 in said town.
Spring Brook, organized January 2, 1884, consists of toAvn
159, range 47. Its first town meeting was held January 17, 1884,
at the residence of Fred Grose on section 20.
Svea, 159-49, organized February 15, 1884, and held its first
town meeting March 4, 1884, at the residence of Daniel Ferguson
on section 6.
Granville, 162-48, organized July 27, 1885, and held its first
town meeting August 15, 1885, at the home of Charles McMillan
on section 22.
Skane, organized May 10, 1887, consists of township 160,
R. 49.
Deerwood, organized July 23, 1888, consists of township 159,
R. 46.

926 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Hazelton, organized July 23, 1888, consists of township 161,
R. 47. Poppleton, 162-47, organized April 8, 1893, and held its first
town meeting at the house of Olof Dahlman, April 22, 1893.
Richardville, consisting of township 163-48 and fractional
township 164-48, was organized January 8, 1895, and held its
first town meeting January 26, 1895, at the house of Bowden
Gardiner. Pelan, 160-45, organized April 20, 1900, held its first town
meeting at Peter Lofgren's store, in said town.
Percy, 161-46; organized July 9, 1900, held its first town
meeting July 26, 1900, at the Percy school house, in district No.
28, in said town.
St. Joseph, 163-47 and fractional 164-47, organized January 9,
1901, held its first town meeting January 26, 1901, at the house
of Albert Nowacki.
Norway, 160-46, organized January 9, 1901, held its first town
meeting January 26, 1901, at the school house of district No. 40,
in said town.
Hill, 162-50 and fractional 162-51, organized January 11, 1901,
held its first town meeting January 29, 1901, at the home of D.
Morrision, on section 16.
McKinley, 163-46 and fractional 164-46, organized July 14,
1902, held its first town meeting July 31, 1902, at John Mclver's
house, in said town.
Arvesen, 159-45, organized July 14, 1902, held its first town
meeting July 31, 1902, at Lars Anderson's house, in said town.
Cannon, 162-46, organized July 11, 1904, held its first town
meeting July 30, 1904, at Olof Peterson's house, on section 28.
Caribou, 163-45 and fractional 164-45, organized January 8,
1908, held its first town meeting January 27, 1908, at the store of
E. M. & V. C. Bailey, in said town.
Congressional townships 161-45 and 162-45 are the only un
organized territories of the county, at the date of this writing,
May 13, 1909. Churches of Kittson County.
The first religious society formally incorporated in Kittson
county was the Congregational church of St. Vincent, which was

KITTSON COUNTY 927
incorporated May 25, 1882, at a meeting held in the school house
at that place. The articles of incorporation recite that in ac
cordance with law, fifteen days' notice of the meeting was given
and the majority of qualified voters elected James Ford, Phillip
LeMasurier, H. B. Ryan and William Ewing, trustees. William
Ewing was the chairman and M. J. P. Thing the secretary of the
meeting. A Misc. 199.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Red River congregation
was organized October 8, 1881, but was not formally incorporated
until December 27, 1887. B-284.
Hope Presbyterian church of St. Vincent was organized July
17, 1882 at a congregational meeting of the church, held in Christ
church of that village. Robert J. Cresswell presided and John
W. Shepard acted as secretary. The following persons were
elected trustees: John W. Shepard, John G. Maxwell, Louis
E. Booker, Harvey P. Smith and Robert J. Cresswell.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Red River congregation
was the first organization of Swedish Lutherans in the county.
Most of those who settled in the Red River neighborhood came
from Goodhue county, where they had been members of SAvedish
Evangelical Lutheran congregations and so in their new homes
they felt the need of religious society. Mr. Nils 0. Sundberg,
who still retained his membership in the congregation at- Moor
head, wrote to its pastor, Rev. J. 0. Cavallin, asking him to come
to Red River, and in April, 1881, he visited the people there and
preached at the homes of J. P. Strandell and L. Eklund. Rev.
Cavallin was the first Swedish Lutheran who preached in the
Red River community. Others followed later, and on October
8, 1881, at the residence of Lars Mattson, on section 24, the con
gregation was organized. It was not formerly incorporated until
December 27, 1887. The trustees elected were : J. P. Strandell,
Nils Hanson and Lars Mattson. Sten F. Stenquist, Peter Morten-
son and J. P. Johnson were elected deacons.
The congregation has been served by but two regular pastors,
Rev. S. G. Swenson, who served from 1886-1889, and Rev. L. P.
Lundgren, who came in 1892 and still remains their minister.

928 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
The congregation celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversay in a most
fitting manner in 1906.
B-284 and " Minnes-Album. "
The Swedish Lutheran Evangelical church of the town of
Jupiter was organized at an early date, for on May 15, 1884, per
mission was granted to it by the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Mani
toba Railway Company, to locate a church and graveyard on ten
acres of land, in a square form, in the southwest corner of sec
tion 21-160-47, that land being then owned by the company.
A-331. j^.-J
Swedish Evangelical Lutheran, on January 6, 1888-,. at a meet
ing, at which Rev. S. G. Swenson presided, and H. C. Malmstrom
acted as secretary, the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Fridhem
congregation of Hallock was formally organized. Eight members
were present and elected A. M. Engman, Charles A. Johnson and
Jonas A. Johnson, as trustees. B-208.
At a meeting held January 14, 1888, at the school house in
district No. 16, the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Saron congre
gation was organized. Rev. S. G. Swenson presided, and Anders
Danielson acted as secretary. John Olson, P. 0. Nordling and H.
Nordin were elected trustees. B-281.
On May 10, 1888, the members of Lundeby congregation of the
Evangelical Lutheran church, organized and elected Bernt
Anderson, H. C. Rood and Tollef Skatrud, trustees. B-273.
The Swedish Christian Mission congregation of Teien was
organized August 15, 1888, at a meeting held at its house of wor
ship. A. Nordgren acted as ehairman, and J. Westman, as clerk.
A. Nordgren, P. Westman and C. E. Mostrom were the first
trustees. B-276.
The Evangelical Lutheran church of Skjeberg, of Teien, was
incorporated February 27, 1888, with Kristian Hansen, Ole
Solibakke and Gunder Hansen, as incorporators. B-222.
The Norwegian Lutheran church of Oslo, in Spring Brook
township, was incorporated January 1, 1889, with Bernt Bothum,
Faltin Faltinson and Peter P. Kolden, as incorporators. B-396.
This is a list of the earlier religious societies organized in
Kittson county. Many have been organized since and nearly all

KITTSON COUNTY 929
denominations are now represented by flourishing congregations.
The latest addition to existing religious societies is the Greek
Orthodox church of Caribou. Banks and Banking.
The Bank of St. Vincent, a private institution, owned by John
H. Rich, Edward L. Baker and Frank B. Howe, all of Red Wing,
Minnesota, was the first financial institution of the county, and
was established in 1880. John H. Rich was the first cashier, and
in November of 1880, he was succeeded by Harvey P. Smith.
Mr. Smith acted as cashier until 1884, when the bank was sold to
Lewis E. Booker and closed.
In 1903, John Birkholz, of Grand Forks,. N. D., and T. M.
George, of Hallock, established a private bank in the village
under the old name of Bank of St. Vincent, which was incor
porated as a state bank, under the name of the Farmers and
Merchants State Bank of St. Vincent, December 22, 1904. John
Birkholz is the president, T. M. George, vice-president, and R. E.
Bennett, cashier. The bank's capital is $10,000.00.
(Letter of H. P. Smith, T. M. George, G-96.)
In April of the year 1888, Joseph Kelso and his son, William,
both of Bellevue, Iowa, established a private bank at Hallock,
under the firm, name of J. Kelso & Son. In 1891 William Kelso
sold his interest to Walter C. Kelso, who then became the cashier,
and acted as such until 1898, when EdAvard McVean was made
cashier. On November 21, 1907, the bank was incorporated as the
Citizens State Bank of Hallock, with a capital of $25,000.00. The
present officers are : Walter C. Kelso, president ; Oscar Young-
gren, vice-president, and William Kelso, cashier. (Wm. K. &
G-323.) Lewis E. Booker, George W. Ryan and M. H. Douglas organ
ized the Kittson County Bank of Hallock, in- 1-8-8&T W. H. Doug
las acted as cashier. In 1894, John Birkholz, of Grand Forks,
N. D., purchased the interest of Booker and Ryan, and on Jan
uary 17, 1897, the bank was incorporated under the state laws as
the Kittson County State bank, with a capital of $10,000.00. Mr.
T. M. George acted as cashier of the institution until January
1, 1909, when he was made vice-president, and A. L. Bennett

930 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
was made the cashier. Mr. Birkholz is still the president of the
bank. (T. M. G. D-153.)
The First National Bank of Hallock, the only national bank
in the county, was organized in September, 1903, by J. R.
Mitchell, D. E. Tawney and P. F. Baumgartner, of Winona, J.
W. Wheeler, of Crookston, and B. E. Sundberg, E. C. Yetter and
C. J. McCollom, of Hallock, with other local men and capitalized
at $25,000.00. Charles Dure acted as the first cashier and was
succeeded in 1905 by J. H. Bradish, who had acted as assistant.
E. C. Yetter is president.
The State Bank of Karlstad, was incorporated February 8
1905, with a capital of $10,000.00 H. L. Melgaard is the presi
dent, Peter Lofgren, vice-president, and C. O. Ofsthun, the
cashier. G-130.
The State Bank of Kennedy, was incorporated May 19, 1902,
with a capital of $12,000.00, which in June 17, 1905, was increased
to $20,000.00. The present officers are : H. L. Melgaard, presi
dent, E. M. Engelbert, vice-president, and Lauritz Melgaard,
cashier. E-268, G-155.
The Citizens State Bank of Kennedy, was incorporated Sep
tember 16, 1907, with a capital of $10,000.00. B. E. Sundberg is
president, J. W. Wheeler, vice-president, and Johan A. Anderson,
cashier. G-315.
The State Bank of Donaldson, was incorporated July 16, 1904,
with a capital of $10,000.00. Its present officers are: H. A.
Johnson, president, G. J. Johnson, vice-president, and O. P.
Olson, cashier. G-23.
Bronson State Bank was incorporated October 10, 1904, with
a capital of $10,000.00. M. G. Myhre was the first cashier and
was succeeded by C. H. Earl, the present cashier, in 1907. E. M.
Engelbert is the president, and Andrew Wik, the vice-president.
G-55. The First State Bank of Orleans, was incorporated August
29, 1905, and its capital is $10,000.00. Edmund Franklin was its
first cashier and was succeeded by R. M. Alexander on January
1, 1909. John Birkholz is the president, and T. M. George, vice-
president. G-45.

HHUj

:.;.:. ¦

E. A. NELSON
\
KITTSON COUNTY 931
The Bank of Orleans, a private bank, established in 1904 by
N. J. Nelson, J. W. Wheeler and Edward Florance, with C. W.
Clow as cashier, was discontinued in 1907.
The First State Bank of Lancaster, was incorporated August
29, 1905, with a capital of $10,000.00, and A. W. Dennis as cashier.
In 1907 T. W. Shogren was made the executive officer. John
Birkholz is the president, and T. M. George, vice-president. G-47.
The First State Bank of Humboldt, was incorporated April
18, 1904, with a capital of $10,000.00. The officers are : J. W.
Wheeler, president, N. J. Nelson, vice-president, and Edward
Florance, cashier. F-627.
The State Bank of Pelan, was incorporated December 16,
1901, with a capital of $10,000.00. The officers were Harold
Thorson, president, Peter Lofgren, vice-president, and Anders
E. Wahl, cashier. The bank was discontinued in 1907. E-173.
There are eleven state banks and one national bank in the
county. The combined capital invested in these financial insti
tutions is $160,000.00. The total deposits in all banks on April
28, 1909, were $821,597.13. The County Building.
When the first board of County Commissioners met at Hal
lock, on April 8, 1879, they met in a building then occupied by
Hans Eustrom, the first county auditor, which building is
described in a "bill of sale" as "one certain frame house located
on lot 14, of block 2, in the Village of Hallock, the dimensions of
which are 14 by 18 feet, one story high, and known as the house
now occupied by Hallock and Swainson and formely by H. Eus
trom, as county auditor's office." This bill of sale was made
by Wenzel Newes to Charles Hallock, and reference to lot and
block belongs to the old plat of Hallock, which was situated on
the south one-half section 12-161-49, and not to the present plat
on section 13. A Misc. 81.
On July 23, 1883, Robert Thompson, one of the commissioners,
was authorized to rent for the term of two years, from January 1,
1884, from any private person or stock company, owning a large
enough building, six rooms for the use of the county officers, at
a rental not to exceed $300.00 per annum. Previous to this, the

932 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
various officers had held their offices at their homes or places of
business. Pat Carrigan, who was the treasurer, resided at Northcote,
but had Mr. Harvey P. Smith, as deputy, who kept the treasurer's
books, at the Bank of St. Vincent. Mr. Smith was also deputy
register of deeds, and kept those records in the bank. H.
Eustrom, the auditor, had his office at Hallock. J. A. Vanstrum,
sheriff, R. R. Pledenberg, county attorney, and W. F. McLaugh
lin, the clerk of court, all had their offices at St. Vincent.
Mr. L. B. Riddell, who owned the east half of section 14, of
Hallock township, had erected in 1883, a large frame building
two stories high, on a couple of lots in the west part of Hallock,
and this building, sometimes called Riddell hall, was leased by the
county, as the county building. This was occupied by the officers,
and the county business transacted therein, until in 1896, when
the present court house was completed, and the offices moved
there. Riddell hall was afterwards purchased by Walter C.
Kelso, who moved it to the northeast corner of block two, of
Hallock, where it noAV serves as a business building. The upper
story is used by the Hallock lodge of Masons, as their lodge
room. The first court Avas held at the Hotel Hallock, the proprietor,
Mr. J. B. Peabody, having tendered to the commissioners the
use of the same, gratis. On April 9, 1881, the commissioners ac
cepted the same with thanks. However, they did not escape
without pay, for on July 25, 1881, among the bills the commis
sioners allowed, we find that James B. Peabody Avas allowed
"$4.00 for the use of a jury room during the July session of the
court and breaking of window lights."
In 1892, and the following years, the people of the county
began to agitate the building of a suitable court house, and as
usual in new counties, this brought up the question of the loca
tion of the county seat. At the first meeting of the commissioners
a motion was made that St. Vincent should be made the county
seat, but this was lost and the seat of government was located
at Hallock. When the question of a new building came up, the
county seat question was resurrected and a bitter fight was made
to have the seat of government changed to St. Vincent. How-

KITTSON COUNTY 933
ever, the attempt to change was abortive and the court house
was built at Hallock. The county issued its bonds for $5,000.00,
and with other additions not then contemplated, brought the cost
up to about $20,000.00.
The present county officers are : Auditor, C. J. Hemmingson,
deputy auditor, J. V". Hemmingson, treasurer, Ole Myre, county
attorney, R. R. Hedenberg, clerk of court, E. A. Johnson, register
of deeds, Edward Nelson, deputy register of deeds, Abbie West,
superintendent of schools, Blanda Sundberg, sheriff, O. J. Ander
son, deputy sheriffs, Oscar Johnson and J. K. Ross, judge of
probate, George"T3aker, coroner, Dr. A. W. Shaleen, court com
missioner, A. P. Holmberg. ,
The county commissioners are^ 1st district, A. Arvesen,
chairman, 2nd district, Louis Swenson, 3rd district, -Beynai'd
Anderson, 4th district, Thomas Coleman, 5th district, Charles
Clow. Schools of Kittson County.
School district No. 1., being the district in which the village
of Hallock is located, -was the first district organized, its organ
ization having been completed July 28, 1879. District No. 2, at
St. Vincent, and district No. 3, at "Joe River," were both organ
ized on January 7, 1880.
The county has now has sixty-seven districts, with seventy-
one schools. Two of these are high schools and twelve semi-
graded schools. The remaining ones are common schools. Every
village in the county has a fine school building, modern in every
respect. Orleans, Humboldt, Hallock, Kennedy and Donaldson,
all have brick buildings.
Matt Cowan was appointed the first county superintendent of
schools, on August 4, 1880. Those who have since served in that
capacity are: Rev. S.'G. Swenson, P. H. Konzen, W. G. Peters,
E. AT Nelson, Nellie O. Eklund, John C. TCowan, and the present
superintendent is Blanda E. Sundberg.
Miscellaneous.
In regard to who made the first survey of the county, and
having no definite information, I wrote to the clerk of government

934 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
surveys at St. Paul, inquiring about the matter, and in reply he
says: "The records show the following deputy surveyors: Jno. B.
Fisk, Humason & Erwin, Stuutz & Ward, Lewis Harrington, Buck
& Taylor, William Milliken, each represent different townships,
and survey was made in the years 1872 and 1873."
When you go to St. Paul, call at the auditor's office, in the
new state capitol, and ask for Martin C. Lund, who is the clerk of
the government survey, and he will tell you when and by which
one of these several deputies, the first survey was made.
The last survey of lands in Kittson county, owned by the
United States government, was made in 1904, by John E. Mulli
gan, who surveyed the fractional township of 164-45.
The first permanent white settler in the county, as far as can
be ascertained, is Andrew Jerome, who squatted on lots 3, 4 and
5, southeast one-quarter, northeast one-quarter and northeast
one-quarter, southeast one-quarter, section 32, in Hill town, where
he still resides and which he proved up as a homestead, in 1883.
Mr. Jerome came here from Canada in 1872 or 1873.
Other early settlers were, Robert Thompson, John O'Malley
and Dennis Stack, who settled here near Hallock, in 1874. A. E.
McLeod came here in 1875, and squatted on what is known as
Muir's Point, where he raised the first wheat ever raised in the
county. A part of this he sold to Hall and Jadis, who used it
for seed on their farm west of Hallock. The rest was hauled to
Pembina and sold there.
In the northern part of the county the oldest settlers were
Perry Walton, Nelson Finney and William Ford. In the southern
part E. N. Davis settled near Donaldson, A. C. Teien in Teien
township, and Nels Hansen in Red River toAvnship. James Smith
and William Ward made their homes near the Red river, on the
north branch lived John Sullivan, John Corcoran, George Rich
ards, William Miller, Patrick Carrigan and James Pritchard.
The following entered homesteads in the early days : Mike
Fortune, P. Boyne, S. Hynes, M. Deegan, Higgins Brothers, D.
McDonald, D. Morrison, Eric Norland and Thomas Cannon.
The early settlers of Kittson county were a healthy lot, but
such of the old timers, who happened ill, were taken care of by

KITTSON COUNTY 935
the post physician at Fort Pembina. The first physician was
Thomas Duhig, of St. Vincent, and about the same time as he
arrived, Dr. Gustav Demars, came to Hallock. Dr. Demars
is still practicing, although at an advanced age and his fellows
in the medical profession are : Dr. A. W. Shaleen, the coroner
of Kittson county, E. Engson, of Hallock, G. W. Dahlquist, of
Lancaster, and C. B. Stone, of Kennedy.
The first druggist of the county was A. Smid, of St. Vincent.
Hans Eustrom, who was the first auditor of the county, was
the first real estate man with an office in the county. He came
to Kittson county in May, 1879, and acted as agent for the St.
Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway Company, in the sale
of its lands, and assisted many of his contemporaries in obtain
ing and locating homesteads. Another early real estate man was
Jas. L. Pisk, who acted as the agent for General Richard W.
Johnson, in the sale of St. Vincent town lots.
Kittson county has seven creameries. This is a new industry
in the county, the first having been organized in 1904. All of
them are co-operative, and are owned by farmers and business
men of the toAvns where located.
Kittson county has eight incorporated villages. St. Vincent,
Hallock, Kennedy and Donaldson, on the Great Northern, Karl
stad, Lancaster and Brdnson, on the Soo line, and Pelan, located
about nine miles east of the Soo line, in Pelan township.
Unincorporated villages are Humboldt and Northcote, on the
Great Northern, Halma and Orleans, on the Soo line, and Robbin
a small village, in Teien township, about twenty miles west of
Donaldson. Newspapers of Kittson County.
The earliest official publications of Kittson county were made
in "The Northern Tier," a weekly newspaper, published in
Crookston, Minn., by Captain J. K. Arnold. This paper was
made the official organ on January 8, 1880. On March 17th, of
that year, the county commissioners made the "St. Vincent
Herald," the official newspaper of the county. This paper was
founded in the early part of 1880, by P. G. Head, who was the
first newspaper man in the county. He did not remain long, for

936 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
he soon sold out to W. C. Mitchell. A very small building, a
Washington hand press, and a small layout of type, constituted
the equipment. The press still has its weekly say through the
columns of the "New Era" of this day. Mr. MitcheU, in the
early 80 's, sold out his paper to William G. Deacon, who changed
the name to the "St. Vincent New Era" and "Kittson County
Record," under which name and with the familiar motto of
"Tell the Truth — Cleveland," the paper has become well known
to residents of the county.
Mr. Deacon is the dean of Kittson county editors. He came
to this county in the early days and located at St. Vincent. Dur
ing his period of residence he has held many positions of public
trust, in county and village. He was for many years the post
master at St. Vincent, and he has served that village from time
immemorial, as clerk of the board of aldermen. He was one of
the early commissioners of the county. A forceful pen and
genial disposition, has won for him the veneration of his fellow
citizens. "The Era" is Republican in polities, although many
times during its career, it has refused to be bound by strict party
ties, when its editor deemed a breaking of them necessary to
the cause of justice.
On January 3, 1883, a new paper, the "Kittson County Enter
prise," was made the official newspaper of the county. This
paper was founded at Hallock, by W. F. Wallace, then the clerk
of court of the county, some time in 1882. The paper was after
wards sold to Ed. H. Love, who conducted the same until 1894,
when it was purchased by J. E. Bouvette and S. E. Thompson,
two graduates of the office of the "Pembina Pioneer Express."
They published it jointly until 1900, when Mr. Bouvette became
the sole owner and publisher. Mr. Bouvette is a Democrat, and
for the past fourteen years he has been the chairman of the
county committee of his party. He is a member of the Pioneers'
association, and is deeply interested in the early history of the
valley. The "Hallock Weekly News" made its first appearance De
cember 15, 1888, under the guiding influence of William G.
Deacon, of "The Era," and E. P. LeMasurier, who is now the
postmaster of Hallock. Two years later, Mr. Deacon sold his

KITTSON COUNTY 937
interest in the "News" to E. A. Nelson. In 1902, Mr. Le
Masurier disposed of his interest to Prank J. Nelson, a brother
of E. A., and Nelson Brothers now constitute the management.
The paper is Republican in politics and has a wide circulation.
The "Kennedy Star" was founded in 1902, by Chas. S. Clark,
of Stephen, Minn. Mr. Clark soon sold the paper to E. M. Engel
bert, who transferred it to C. J. Estlund in 1905. Its politics is
Democratic. G. J. Johnson, the vice-president of the State Bank of Donald
son, founded the "Donaldson Record" in 1905. It is a Repub
lican newspaper.
The "Karlstad Advocate," published by the C. J. Forsberg
Land & Loan Company, Avith C. 0. Ofsthun as editor, is a con
tinuation of the "Pelan Advocate." It is Republican in politics.
The "Bronson Budget" was founded in 1905, by A. E. Bab
cock, who had once been the editor of the "Pelan Press." It is
Republican in politics.
The "Lancaster Herald" was founded in 1905, by J. E. Bou
vette, the publisher of the "Kittson County Enterprise." It is
Democratic in politics.
The "Halma Pilot" once flourished at Halma, Minn., but was
discontinued. Village of Hallock.
The village of Hallock, which is the county seat of Kittson
county, is situated in the township of Hallock, and was so named
in honor of Charles Hallock, the veteran sportsman and writer. &
It lies twenty-two miles south of the international boundary line &
on the south branch of Two Rivers, and was originally located by^
its founder as a sort of sportsman's headquarters.
The town was originally platted and laid out on the south
half of Section 12 of the town of Hallock by John Swainson, a
graduate of the University of Upsala, Sweden, on December 31,
1879. Mr. Swainson had a contract with the old St. Paul and
Pacific Raihvay Company to locate its depot and sidings on his
plat, and in consequence a couple of stores, a saloon, H. Eustrom 's
auditor's and real estate office, Peter Daly's tavern and postoffice
were built thereon. When the railroad passed into the hands of

938 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
James J. Hill and his associates a new townsite was platted on
the northwest quarter of Section 13 of the town of Hallock,
which was land granted by the state of Minnesota to the rail
road company.
Mr. Plallock, Avhile still a resident of New York and in igno
rance of the removal of the townsite, purchased a half interest in
the old toAvnsite and five additional acres adjoining the neAV town
on the north, which was platted as Hallock & Swainson 's first
addition to Hallock, and on which Mr. Hallock afterwards erected
a large hotel. Mr. Hallock, who was and still remains eA7en at
the ripe age of seventy-six, a true and interested sportsman, was
attracted to this country by the abundance of game, big and
little, and built his hotel accordingly.
Mr. S. W. Chaffee, a contractor from Red Wing, built the
hotel in the months of June to September, 1880. The real builder
of the place was our present state senator, Mr. Sundberg, who
did the Avork. It was located about a block from the depot and
cost about $10,000. In an advertising prospectus of that early
day it is said that the hotel "has water on every floor, bath room,
set water basins, speaking tubes, barber shop, kennel rooms, gun
room, etc., and is replete with every needed com'enience for
sportsmen and the traveling public. It is eighty-five feet in
length, three stories high, with wide double verandas and inclosed
promenade on the roof, and has a wing of twenty-five by twenty-
five feet." Four stores were located in the lower story.
Hotel Hallock became at once the center of the new town.
Most of the public business was transacted there, and on August
18, 1880, the first toAvn meeting of the toAvn of Hallock was held
there and formal organization of the township completed. The
following Avere elected town officers : W. R. Bell, Charles Hallock
and C. J. McCollom, supervisors, of which W. R. Bell Avas the
chairman; C. H. Pelan, town clerk; Henry Graham, treasurer;
Peter Daly and John Forbes, justices of the peace ; Pat McCabe
and Henry Hale, constables ; Eric Nordland, roadmaster ; J. Lind-
gren, assessor; M. A. Holther, poundmaster.
The village of Hallock had at that time 125 registered voters,
representing a population of about 500. There were seven stores,

CHARLES HALLOCK

KITTSON COUNTY 939
three boarding houses, livery stables, two saloons, blacksmith and
carpenter shops, land office, county offices, a lumber yard and
postoffice. The first term of district court held in the county was held
in the hotel building, with Judge 0. P. Stearns presiding and
W. F. McLaughlin acting as clerk.
A Rev. Mr. Curry, of Euclid, held the first Protestant Epis
copal service in Hallock in the hotel dining room.
Many sportsmen made the hotel their headquarters while here
on hunting trips from all parts of the United States, especially
from New York, and many of Mr. Hallock 's literary friends spent
their vacations here. On Christmas eve, 1892, the structure was
totally destroyed by fire and noAV nothing remains of the old
landmark except the hole in the ground that was once the base
ment. On the old townsite, Peter Daly, the first register of deeds of
the county, built a tavern and small store in November, 1879, and
was appointed the first postmaster. He did considerable business
with the Indians, buying furs and seneka root in exchange for
groceries, provisions and some cash. When the townsite was
moved, Mr. Daly went to Northcote and built a store there and
became the first postmaster of that village.
Hans Eustrom, the county auditor, had a small building on
the old townsite used as an office for his real estate business, and
here the old county commissioners met to transact the county
business. Dennis Stack, who came from Fishers Landing, ran a
saloon in the old town.
The pioneer merchant of the new town was Thomas B. New-
comb, who occupied part of the building now occupied by the
Farmers' Co-operative Mercantile Company. C. J. McCoUom
bought him out at an early day and was later joined in the busi
ness by A. P. T. Suffel, his brother-in-law.
Other early merchants were A. Nordenmalm, Lindegard Bros.,
Claus Lindblom, Dure and Eklund. Sterrett, Hill and Childs
operated the first elevator on the site of the St. Anthony and
Dakota Elevator Company's warehouse. Eklund Bros., consist
ing of L. N. Eklund, once the register of deeds of the county,

940 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
and A. M. Eklund, Jr., and McCoUom and Suffel also bought
grain in the early days.
A cheese factory operated by W. L. Beaton and owned by
McCoUom and Suffel did a thriving business in the later eighties
and early nineties. The building used by them has now been
converted into a flat.
Hallock roller mills was the first mill in the county and was
built by John Cochran, of Drayton. It was burned in 1905.
The village of Hallock was incorporated on June 11, 1887. The
first officers were : President, Dr. G. Demars ; trustees, C. J.
McCoUom, A. Nordenmalm, J. Westerson; treasurer, L. N.
Eklund; recorder, W. H. Alley.
Hallock of Today.
The Hallock of the present day is a thriving village of 1,200
inhabitants, the county seat of a county now containing more
than 10,000. A brief mention of its present business men is
proper. General Merchants — N. G. Brown, Farmers ' Co-operative Mer
cantile Company, Hanson Bros., L. & C. A. Lindblom, N. P. Lund
gren, Lindegard Bros.
Implement Dealers — Schmauss & Lamb, Ellis & Olander and
H. C. Malmstrom.
Hardware Dealers — T. Inglis & Son, Johnson & Tengblad,
Nelson & Gullander.
Attorneys — E. C. Yetter and Ralph V. Blethen, of the firm of
Yetter & Blethen ; P. H. Konzen, of the firm of Konzen & Henry,
and R. R. Hedenberg, who is the present county attorney.
Doctors — A. W. Shalen, G. Demars and E. Engson.
Restaurants— N. A. Nelson, A. E. McLeod, B. T. Thrane, G. J.
Vidstrand, Hjalmar Nelson, Mrs. Swanstrom.
Banks — Citizens' State Bank, Kittson County State Bank and
the First National Bank. These banks represent a banking capi
tal of $70,000, and on April 28, 1909, their aggregate deposits
were $403,734.74.
Real Estate — J. A. Swenson Land & Loan Company, of which
J. A. Swenson is the senior member. He was judge of probate
of the county for ten years. G. A. Gunnarson, who was county

KITTSON COUNTY ' 941
auditor for sixteen years, established an office in April, 1909.
Hallock Land Company, represented by George E. Richardson,
of LeMars, la.
Barbers — William Playden and William Krumholz.
Furniture — J. P. Sjoholm and R. B. Johnson.
Hotels — The West Hotel, run by John Nelson, and the Pacific
Hotel, managed by Gilmore & Labossiere.
Drugs— A. P. T. Suffel, D. A. Robertson.
Elevators — St. Anthony & Dakota Elevator Company, J. C.
Powers, agent; National Elevator Company, Christ Erickson,
agent ; Imperial Elevator Company, F. L. Peterson, agent ; Wood-
worth Elevator Company, Matt Kramer, agent.
Lumber Yards — Robertson Lumber Company, N. St. Albans,
manager; St. Hilaire Retail Lumber Company, A. M. Nilsestuen,
agent. Livery Stables — Ferguson & Blid, William Truedson.
Hallock Gaslight Company, R. B. Johnson, manager.
Hallock Building & Loan Association, J. H. Bradish, secretary.
Photographer— William Hartvig. Schools.
School District No. 1 is located at Hallock and was organized
July 28, 1879, being the first school organized in the county. The
personnel of the first board of directors is as follows : Robert
Thompson, president; C. Anderson, clerk, and Dennis Stack,
treasurer. Miss Mary Rogers, an elderly lady, was the first
teacher in the county, and she taught school in a little frame
building in the southeast part of town and incidentally held down
a homestead claim. Later a two-story frame building was erected
on the present school site. P. H. Konzen was the first teacher
to occupy this building. This building was afterwards moved
to the business part of the town and is now occupied by Nelson
& Gullander as a hardware store.
In 1894 the west part of the present brick structure was put
up and the addition thereto was erected in 1900. In 1908 the
northern part of the building was added at a cost of about
$15,000. A full high school is now given. E. B. Bothe, a graduate of

942 HISTORYr OF RED RIVER VALLEY
the University of Minnesota, has been the superintendent for the
past six years. Ten teachers assist him in providing mental
pabulum for the enrollment of 355 pupils.
Hallock Churches.
The First Presbyterian Church of Hallock, organized July 6,
1885, was the first incorporated religious society at the county
seat. C. J. McCoUom, George Thompson and L. B. Riddell com
posed the first board of trustees. Rev. Henry Long was the first
pastor, and Rev. G. E. Moorhouse, Ph. D., the present pastor.
On January 6, 1885f at a meeting at which Rev. S. G. Swenson
presided and H. C. Malmstrom acted as clerk, the Swedish Evan
gelical Lutheran Fridhem congregation of Hallock was formally
organized. Eight members were present and elected A. M. Eng-
man, Charles A. Johnson and Jonas A. Johnson as trustees. Rev.
S. G. Swenson was the first pastor and also served one term as
county superintendent of schools. He was succeeded in 1892
by Rev. L. P. Lundgren, who still remains the pastor of the con
gregation. /*%< CvCc-v~i^/ to-*,* -o-v «e^_*^SjS Atx^,,,,,**,^ *f/%g
The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1902, during the
ministry of Rev. E. A. Cooke. Rev. D. L. Clark is the present
pastor. The Swedish Mission Church has a commodious house of wor
ship and Rev. C. L. Anderson is the minister of the congregation.
St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church was built in the -early £
- nincties-and T. H. M. Villiers Appleby was the first rector of the
parish. Rev. F. J. Cox is the present rector.
The Roman Catholic Parish was formally organized July 8,
1902, but had long previously built a church and held services
therein. At present the parish has no regular priest, but mass
is celebrated occasionally by priests from neighboring towns.
Charles Hallock, for whom the town and village of Hallock
were named, is the veteran journalist and author. He was born
in New York March 13, 1834, and is the son of Gerard and Eliza
Allen Hallock. He was graduated from Amherst College with
the degree of bachelor of arts in 1854 and received the master's
degree from that institution in 1871. On September 10, 1855,
he married Amelia J. Wardell. Mrs. Hallock died in 1901. He

KITTSON COUNTY 943
was the editor of the New Haven "Register" from 1855 to 1856,
of the New York "Journal of Commerce," 1856-1861, and of the
St. John, N. B., "Telegraph and Courier," from 1863-65. He
became the financial editor of "Harper's Weekly" in 1868. In
1873 he founded the "Forest and Stream," and while the editor
of this paper he founded the town of Hallock, Minn. He was
the editor of the "Northwestern Field and Stream" from 1896-
1897. He has done a great deal of collecting for the Smithsonian
Institute and is a member of many clubs and historical societies,
among them our OAvn Minnesota State Historical Society. He is
the author of many books of a wide range of subjects. He has
also written many pamphlets and monographs on several subjects,
especially on game and sports.
His latest works are a genealogy of the Hallock family and
a book on Alaska. He is at present engaged in the writing of his
autobiography, which is awaited with interest by many of the
oldtimers of Kittson county, Avho remember with pleasant recol
lections the early efforts of this genial nature lover whose hopes
for this great country were unbounded.
The details of Mr. Hallock 's part in the founding of Hallock
are given at length in the article dealing with that village.
St. Vincent.
St. Vincent, Minn., is the oldest town in the county, the first
meeting of the township board being held on May 15, 1880. R.
W. Lowery, G. A. Hurd, P. M. McLaughlin, L. A. Nobels and P.
M. Head were the township officers. The village was organized
on April 16, 1881 ; first president was James L. Fisk ; recorder,
J. W. Morrison. John A. Vanstrom, the first assessor, afterwards
served as register of deeds, and later was elected sheriff.
St. Vincent at the present time has a population of about 400.
It is located in the northwestern part of the county, directly
opposite Pembina, N. D., 390 miles northwest of St. Paul. It is
the terminal between the Great Northern and the Canadian
Pacific Railways, and a port of entry for collection of customs.
The first newspaper published in Kittson county was a weekly.
W. G. Mitchell was the editor. It was known as the ' ' St Vincent
Herald." It was succeeded by the "New Era," published by
William G. Deacon, the present owner and proprietor. The vil-

944 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
lage is well supplied with churches and religious societies, includ
ing Episcopal, Methodist and Presbyterian churches ; has a graded
school, and is composed of an energetic and high class people.
The officials of the village for 1909 are : President, A. Dorrah ;
treasurer, Mr. Kruse; trustees, E. Cameron, J. R. Ryan, R. E.
Bennett and W. Russell ; recorder, William G. Deacon ; Dr. C. B.
Harris, health officer. Bench and Bar of Kittson County.
By
P. H. Konzen.
Kittson county, having been since its organization successively
a part of the eleventh and the fourteenth judicial districts of
this state, the personnel of the bench is treated of elsewhere in
this volume. It remains to speak of the court with special refer
ence to the earlier terms held in this county.
The first term to be held, after the separation of this county
from the county of Polk, to which it was attached for judicial
purposes immediately after its organization, was fixed by an act
of the legislature for the third Monday in June, 1881, but for
some reason this term Avas adjourned until the 5th day of July.
It was held in the south store room under Hotel Hallock, where
a temporary platform was built for the judge, with a small office
table in front of him. Judge 0. P. Stearns presided, Frank Mc
Laughlin, of St. Vincent, was clerk, and John A. Vanstrum,
sheriff, while R. R. Hedenborg, who had been elected to that
office in the fall of 1880, was county attorney. There were three
cases on the calendar. The first criminal case tried in the county
was the case of the State of Minnesota vs. Hugh Drain, indicted
upon the charge of grand larceny for stealing a yoke of oxen from
one J. J. Conrads. He was duly convicted and drew a sentence
of three years in the penitentiary. The first civil action was the
case of M. I. Northrup vs. J. A. Vanstrum, sheriff, being an action
in conversion for the seizure and sale of certain goods under an
execution. The bar of this county was at that time represented by County
Attorney R. R. Hedenberg, who located at St. Vincent in 1879.

PETER H. KUNZEN
rt

KITTSON COUNTY 945
and P. H. Konzen, who had located at Hallock in April, 1880.
The cases on the calendar numbered three civil and one criminal
case and, except for the county attorney who looked after the
criminal case, they were taken care of by Reynolds & Watts and
Ives & McLean, of Crookston, and Warner & Stevens, of St. Paul.
The term Avas finished in two and a half days, and the balance of
the last day, awaiting the arrival of the train south, was spent
fishing by the court and attorneys, after each catching his own
frogs for bait. To the younger members of the bar it was rather
an amusing circumstance to see Judge Stearns, then well up in
years and of a very dignified and patriarchal appearance, lay
aside his judicial dignity and pursue the diminutive amphibians
with an agility which surprised them all.
Annual terms were held thereafter until the year 1903, when
regular spring and fall terms were provided for by the legisla
ture. The office of clerk of the court was held successively by
Frank McLaughlin, W. F. Wallace, Olaf A. Holther, Charles Clow,
N. G. Ehrenstrom and E. A. Johnson, the latter being the present
incumbent. The office of sheriff was held successively by John
A. Vanstrum, Oscar Younggren and 0. J. Anderson, the latter
the present incumbent. The first grand jury summoned for this
county consisted of the following: J. Peter Johnson, W. H.
Miller, P. W. Wagoner, . John 0. Sullivan, Lars Eklund, E. G.
Thomas, John Finney, T. B. Newcomb, N. C. Moore, N. p. Peter
son, J. McGlashen, Knute 0. Wold, J. S: Lindgren, Alfred Larson,
Andrew Murphy, E. N. Davis, Mathew Cowan, P. Chase, Albert
Hams, Henry Graham, Robert W. Lowery, W. R. Bell and D. F.
Brawley. The first petit jury was composed of the following: M. A.
Holther, John B. Fee, Thomas McGlothlin, C. Pelan, W. H. Moore,
John Jenkins, Jr., F. Almey, Charles Clow, James I. Kirk, George
Ash, John Long, H. J. Moore, Thomas Toner, Hugh Kennedy,
Lars Mattson, Jonas Sandberg, Ralph Brown, John Buie, Richard
Forbes, Ole Norland, John Lindblom, Edward Cammeron, W. H.
Alley and Michael Fortune.
While there were no important cases tried here in an early
day and, as in most agricultural counties of the state, but little
of importance transpired during our terms to vary the monotony

946 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
of legal routine, the following may be cited as among the amus
ing incidents and happenings : At the May, 1883, term an indict
ment was returned by the grand jury against one Kate Rafferty,
an Irish woman of rather more rustic than criminal proclivities,
charging her with having made assault upon one, Donald Mor
rison, with a dangerous weapon, to-wit., a firearm commonly
called a pistol, which was then and there loaded with powder
and leaden bullets, with intent then and there to do him, the said
Donald Morrison, great bodily harm. In order to explain the
circumstances of the assault it is necessary to state that Mrs.
Rafferty was "holding down a claim," which she was guarding
very jealously, and, on account of her husband being away at
work on the railroad in Manitoba, she was suspicious that certain
evil-disposed persons were casting covetous eyes upon her claim.
On the day in question Morrison, with a companion, was seen
walking across the tract which she called her own, in a suspi
cious manner, as she thought, and seizing the "dangerous wea
pon" in question she started in pursuit, and with its gaping
muzzle pointed in Morrison's direction, ordered him peremptorily
to vacate the premises. Morrison promptly swore out a warrant
against her, and the grand jury returned "a true bill." Kate
appeared in court with the weapon which she claimed to have
used. It was an old-fashioned, muzzle-loading horse-pistol, of
formidable size, thoroughly rusted, with the nipple completely
battered down. It had probably not seen service for twenty-five
years or more. W. W. Irwin, of St. Paul, then in the prime of
his reputation as a criminal lawyer, Avas retained to defend Mrs.
Rafferty. In due time she took the stand in her OAvn behalf, and
Mr. Irwin drew from his pocket the weapon and handed it to
Mrs. Rafferty with the question, ' ' Is this the gun that you had ? ' '
Mrs. Rafferty took the weapon and answered in a rich Irish
accent, "Yis, your honor, that is it," at the same time snapping
the hammer several times. Judge Stearns, with his brow knit and
his eyes flashing fire, cried out in excited voice, "Stop, stop, stop
snapping that weapon in here !" By this time Kate realized that
the judge was afraid that the weapon might be discharged and,
in order to assure him of its absolute safety, cried out, "Oh, your
honor, it ain't loaded," and pointing it directly at him, snapped

KITTSON COUNTY 947
it again several times. At this time the court sat in the school-
house and the judge's position was behind the teacher's desk.
Forgetting his dignity, he slipped from his seat and crouched
behind the desk, shouting, "Stop, stop, or I'll have you arrested!"
After recovering himself from the floor, with his eyes darting
vengeance upon the prisoner, he blurted out, "Woman, if you
were a man, I'd have you arrested right now." The "Tall Pine
of the North" regarded this episode with infinite amusement.
At the general term of court held in March, 1888, the action
of Thrane vs. Holmberg came up for trial. Plaintiff had sued
for the killing of a dog and claimed damages in the sum of fifty
dollars. Attorney P. H. Konzen appeared for the plaintiff and
Hon. II. Steenerson, of Crookston, for the defendant. Plaintiff
had testified that a certain party had offered him fifty dollars
for the dog and which offer plaintiff had refused. This testi
mony was given for the purpose of fixing the value of the dog,
and as the person referred to had left the country, this was about
the only corroborative evidence as to the value. Mr. Steenerson
began to cross-examine the plaintiff as to the offer and requested
him to repeat the conversation he had had with the party, and
the exact language used by him in making the offer, when the
folloAving colloquy ensued:
Mr. Steenerson — "Will you please state the exact language
used?" Mr. Thrane — "Well, we were out hunting together with the
dog, and after we got back this party asked me what I would
take for him, and I told him fifty dollars."
Mr. Steenerson — ' ' Well, did he say that he would pay you that
for him?"
Mr. Thrane— "No."
Mr. Steenerson — "Well, what did he do when you told him
you would take fifty dollars for the dog?"
Mr. Thrane — "Nothing; he went to North Dakota and I have
not seen him since."
Mr. Steenerson — "Then let me go over that offer again. As
I understand it, he asked you what you would take for the dog,
and you told him fifty dollars, and then he left the state and went
to North Dakota and never came back — is that right?"

948 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY.
Mr. Thrane— "Yes, sir."
Mr. Steenerson — "I don't blame him; I would have done the
same thing."
The jury returned a Arerdict for the plaintiff in the sum of
six cents.
Among other old attorneys who practiced in Kittson county
there was Frank MacGowan, of St. Vincent, who was admitted
to practice in the court room in Hallock. He is now in Lewiston,
Mont. He taught the first term of school in the Joe river district.
W. H. Alley, at one time the partner of Mr. Konzen, was the
county attorney of the county for one term. He is now located
in Roseau. George E. Holcomb practiced law in Hallock in the later
eighties. He afterwards went to the Pacific Coast and became
interested in a toAvnsite of a growing town, and when he had
sold out his lots there he went to Cuba, where he superintended
a large estate for many years. At present he resides on his large
farm near Argyle in Marshall county.
The bar of Kittson county is now made up of P. H. Konzen
and R. R. Hedenberg, heretofore mentioned, and the following:
Elmer C. Yetter, who came to Hallock in-1803-and the senior
member of the firm of Yetter & Blethen. Mr. Yetter is the pres
ent mayor of Hallock and the president of the First National
Bank of the village. His junior partner, Ralph V. Blethen, is a
graduate of the law department of the University of Wisconsin,
was admitted to practice in this state in the fall of 1902, and
came to Hallock immediately afterwards.
C. 0. Ofsthun, of Karlstad, the cashier of the State Bank of
that place, is also an attorney, having been admitted to practice
in 1904. He is a graduate of the law department of the Univer
sity of the State of Minnesota.
Edward Nelson, the present register of deeds of the county,
is the latest addition to the bar. He passed the state examination
in May, 1909, and took the oath of an attorney at the June term
of court at Hallock the same year.
In this connection, mention may also be made of J. D. Henry,
the junior member of the firm of Konzen & Henry, who, while

KITTSON COUNTY 949
not admitted to the bar, is no inconsiderable factor in the firm.
Mr. Henry handles the commercial collections of the firm.
R. R. Hedenberg is a pioneer resident of Kittson county. He
was born in Carlstorp parish, Sweden, November 16, 1854. In,
1867 he came with his parents from Sweden to Red Wing, Minn.
He was then twelve years old, the eldest of a family of eight
children. Within a month after their arrival in this country,
his father and five of the children died of cholera. His remaining
brother and sister died while children, and after the death of his
mother he was the only one left of this family.
He studied law in the law office of Colonel William Colville
and Charles N. Akers, at Red Wing, and was admitted to prac
tice as an attorney May 16, 1879. He located in St. Vincent.
where he remained till the spring of 1890, when he removed to
Hallock, where he now resides. At the first county election held
in the county, being in 1879, he was elected county attorney and
has held that office ever since except during the years of 1889-
1892, when he was the judge of probate of the county. He is
still the county attorney of Kittson county.
He has been a painstaking, trustAvorthy, energetic prosecuting
attorney, and his conservatism and carefulness have been the
means of much saving in a financial way to the county.
Mr. Hedenberg was married July 8, 1893, to Corinne L. David
son. They have had six children, of whieh Anna Corinne, Robert
Davidson, Winfred Giroux and Margaret Elizabeth are living,
two having died in infancy.
P. H. Konzen, the present village attorney of Hallock, is one
of the pioneers of Kittson county, having located here in the
spring of 1881, then a young man of twenty-four years. He was
born on the 27th of May, 1857, in Chickasaw county, Iowa, on
a farm embracing the present site of the village of Lawler. His
parents emigrated from Germany in 1852 and the following year
located upon the farm upon whieh the subject of this sketch firsl
saw the light of day. He was the third child of a family of five,
three sons and two daughters, all still alive. He was educated in
the public schools of Lawler, afterward attending an academy
at Bradford, in that county, and completing his education by a
term at the University of Iowa City, and a course at Baylee 's mer-

950 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
cantile college at Keokuk, la. His boyhood life was spent upon
the farm until the age of seventeen, when he began teaching
school, which profession he followed during the formative period
of his career and while completing his education.
In 1878 he began the study of law, at first in the office of H.
H. Potter at New Hampton, and afterwards under the direction
of John R. Geeting, a gentleman who has since risen to consider
able distinction as a criminal lawyer in the city of Chicago, 111.
Mr. Konzen first came to Minnesota in 1879, and entered the laAV
office of a Mr. Parker, at Sleepy Eye, where he remained until
the fall of that year, when he again returned to Iowa to accept
the nomination tendered him by his friends for the office of
county superintendent of schools of his native county. He was
defeated in the election and entered into the newspaper business,
editing the Lawler "Herald" until the spring of 1881, when he
sold out, and coming to the Red River valley, he at once recog
nized the grand possibilities of this garden spot of the world and
settled at Hallock, then a hamlet numbering not more than half
a dozen buildings, where he opened a law office and, in the words
of the immortal Horace Greeley, has "grown up with the
country. ' '
In the fall of 1881 Mr. Konzen was elected county superin
tendent of schools for Kittson county, which position he held for
some years, having been three times re-elected. He has since held
various public offices as county attorney, president of the Kittson
County Agricultural Association, and in 1898 was the Republican
nominee for member of the state legislature for the sixty-third
legislative district. Although defeated by the tide of Populism,
he received a creditable vote and conducted a model campaign.
Mr. Konzen is one of the most progressive and public-spirited
citizens of Kittson county, was for many years a member of the
school board of Hallock, and it is chiefly owing to his push and
perseverance that that thriving village can boast of a high school
second to none in the state. Mr. Konzen was elected mayor of
Hallock in 1897, whieh position he held until 1906, to the eminent
satisfaction of its people. Mr. Konzen is recognized as one of
the ablest and most prominent attorneys north of Crookston, and
during his residence at Hallock has amassed a snug little fortune,

KITTSON COUNTY 951
.besides building up a professional and business reputation of
which he may well be proud. He has helped in an eminent degree
to shape the destiny of his city, and when the history of Kittson
county shall be written he will appear as one of its most con
spicuous figures.
In the spring of 1901 Mr. Konzen and J. D. Henry formed a
co-partnership for the purpose of conducting a real estate business
in connection with the law business, and so far have been very
successful, especially in the sale of Manitoba lands.
Edward Nelson, the present register of deeds of Kittson
county, was born in Gladstone, 111., February 6, 1877. He re
ceived his early education in the public schools of Monmouth,
111. Thereafter he attended Augustana College of Rock Island,
111., and was graduated from that institution with the degree of
bachelor of arts in 1897.
In September, 1897, he came to Kittson county and taught
school in St. Vincent and Humboldt. In the spring of 1899 he
returned to Illinois and entered the law office of J. B. Oakleaf
and read law there until the fall of 1901, when he returned to
Kittson county. In March, 1902, he entered the employ of Captain
John A. Vanstrum, who was then the register of deeds of the
county. On October 28, 1902, Captain Vanstrum resigned from
his position and on that day the county commissioners appointed
Mr. Nelson to succeed him. Captain Vanstrum had received the
nomination on the Republican ticket, and this he also resigned
with a recommendation to the county committee of that party that
they appoint Mr. Nelson to fill the place on the ticket. This was
done and Mr. Nelson was elected by a large majority. He was
re-elected in 1904, 1906 and 1908.
On September 23, 1903, Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Annie
Ferguson, of Drayton, N. D.
Mr. Nelson is a member of the Minnesota State Historical
Society and was admitted to the bar in 1909.
Emil Alfred Nelson was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota,
of Swedish parentage, March 18, 1870. He received his first
learning in the public schools of that county and in 1897 he was
graduated from Augustana College of Rock Island, 111., with the
degree of bachelor of science. He afterwards took a post gradu-

952 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY"
ate course at the University of Minnesota and received the degree
of master of science from that institution in 1902.
He came to Kittson county in 1888 and taught school for
many years. In 1889 he became part owner of the Hallock
"Weekly News," and still remains its editor. With his brother,
Frank J. Nelson, he manages a large farm in Red River town
ship in addition to his editorial duties.
Mr. Nelson was superintendent of schools of Kittson county
from 1894 to 1900, and served as state librarian from 1901 to
1905. In 1906 he was a prominent candidate before the state
convention for the nomination for secretary of state, but through
a combination of interests was defeated. In the legislatures of
1907 and 1909 he served as engrossing clerk of the senate.
Mr. Nelson was married December 22, 1897, to Miss Florence
Dure, of Hallock, and two children bless their home.
Mr. Nelson is one of the pillars of the Republican party in the
state, and largely through his efforts the northern part of the
state was rescued from the throes of Populism. He is a member
of several clubs and fraternal societies and a member of the
Swedish Lutheran church.
Bengt E. Sundberg, the state senator of the sixty-third legis
lative district, was born in Smaland, SAveden, January 26, 1851,
and lived there with his parents until 1867, when he went to
Germany, Avhere he remained for four years. In 1871 he came
to Minnesota and located in Red Wing, Avhere he went to school
to learn the English language, all the time supporting himself by
carpenter Avork. Having mastered the carpenter's trade, he
entered the employ of S. AY. Chaffee, a Avell knoAvn architect and
contractor, and remained in his employ for ten years.
In -48&L- Mr. Sundberg went to Hallock and built the hotel
there, Mr. Chaffee having contracted .for the Avork Avith Charles
Hallock, the editor of "Forest and Stream." While at Hallock
Mr. Sundberg was induced by Colonel Hans Mattson and Captain
Hans Eustrom to locate in Kittson county. In the Avinter of
1881 he severed his connection Avith Mr. Chaffee and came to
Kennedy and took up a homestead in the town of Davis, where
he still resides.
During the thirty years of his residence in Kittson county,

KITTSON COUNTY 953
Mr. Sundberg has been very successful, having acquired exten
sive real estate interests. The farm on which he resides is one
of the best in the county, being composed of 840 acres of excel
lent land furnished with large and comfortable buildings,
equipped with the best of machinery and stocked with fine breeds
of cattle. Mr. Sundberg was married at Red Wing, March 17, 1877, to
Anna Johnson. Two children were born of this union — Blanda
E., who is the present county superintendent of schools, and
John Edward, a student in the law department of the state uni
versity. Mrs. Sundberg died January 28, 1889, and Mr. Sund
berg thereupon married Albertina Estlund, of Kennedy, and they
have two children — Roy A. and Anna E. — both of whom reside
at home with their parents.
Senator Sundberg is a man of exemplary habits, a thorough
business man and a progressive citizen. He is a staunch Repub
lican and deeply interested in the welfare of the state. He has
held various offices in village, school district, town and county,
having been postmaster of Kennedy, county commissioner, school
clerk and toAvn treasurer. In November, 1902, he was elected
state senator and was re-elected without opposition in 1906. He
has often been mentioned as a gubernatorial possibility and his
record in the state senate is one that has brought him honor and
recognition in all parts of the state.
Lower Red River Valley.
From
Kittson County Enterprise.
By the treaty of peace of 1783, England recognized the inde
pendence of the United States of America; and the land east of
the Mississippi and northwest of the Ohio was open to settlement
by American citizens. In 1786, when congress met in New York
city, a graduate of Yale College, a puritan divine of some scien
tific attainments, had frequent conferences with Dane and Jeffer
son relative to the colonization of the Ohio valley, and securing
the placing of certain provisions in the celebrated ordinance of
1787, and also that precious boon, the grant of land in each town-

954 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ship for the support of common schools. Under his auspices,
and of a few other gentlemen, in December, 1787, the first colony
left Massachusetts for the northwest territory. Upon the covers
of the wagon which was built for their accommodation were the
words, "For Ohio," and on the 7th of April they reached a point
called Marietta, and erected homes of peace and contentment —
"Dwelt in the love of God and of man. Alike were they free
from
Fear, that reigns with the tyrant, and envy, the vice of republics.
Neither locks had they to their doors, nor bars to their windows ;
But their dwellings were open as day and the hearts of their
owners ;
There the richest was poor, and the poor lived in abundance."
Among these pioneers of the Ohio valley was one who had a
daughter, and that daughter became the wife of a delegate from
Michigan, and the mother of the first delegate from the territory
of Minnesota, Hon. Henry H. Sibley.
It is an interesting fact and ought not to be forgotten, that
while the eastern division of Minneapolis was once a part of the
old Northwest territory, the western wards of the city at the time
of the ordinance of 1787 were in Spanish territory, a part of
Louisiana, that was in 1800 restored to France, and purchased in
1803 by the United States of America.
Immigrants from Rupert 's Land.
The first agricultural immigrants to the plains of Minnesota
came not by New Orleans, nor by Detroit, but by the river which
Groselliers had named after his wife, St. Theresa, an outlet of
Winnipeg's waters to Hudson's bay.
Thomas Douglas, Earl of Selkirk, conceived the idea of plant
ing an agricultural colony within Prince Rupert's Land, and in
the year 1812 brawny Scotchmen — Presbyterians in their religious
faith — arrived upon the banks of the Red river by way of Hud
son's bay, and tarried for a time at Pembina, within the limits
of the United States. Wheat for Red River.
The Scotch in a few years became successful hunters of the
buffalo and fleet walkers upon snowshoes, but they did not for

KITTSON COUNTY 955
their children's sakes wish to be Nimrods, and sent a deputation
under Laidlaw, a Scotch farmer, to Prairie du Chien, the nearest
farming settlement in the United States, to procure seed wheat.
The men were three months making the journey, and purchased
200 bushels for about $500. Leaving the Wisconsin river with
three Mackinaw boats, they commenced, on the 15th of April,
1820, their return. Upon reaching Lake Pepin the ice had not
disappeared, but on the 3d of May they were able to pass through.
Ascending the Minnesota they came to Lake Traverse, and from
thence the boats were drawn on rollers a mile and a half to the
Big Stone lake. Crossing this body of water, they ascended the
Sioux Wood river to the Red river, and arrived at Pembina.
Coming of the Swiss.
In the spring of 1821 there might have been seen huddled to
gether on the banks of the Rhine, not far from the cathedral of
Basle, whieh has been the architectural pride of Switzerland
for more than eight centuries, a party of emigrants of the same
faith as Groselliers and Raddison, the pioneer explorers of Min
nesota, about to leave their native land and embark for the wilds
of America. Having descended the Rhine to the vicinity of Rot
terdam, they went aboard the ship Lord Wellington, and after a
voyage across the Atlantic and amid the ice floes of Hudson's
bay, they reached York fort, whieh had been first established
by Groselliers. Here they debarked, and entering batteaux, as
cended Nelson river for twenty days until they came to Lake
Winnipeg, and coasting along the west shore reached the Red
River of the North, which rises in Minnesota in Otter Tail lake.
With the exception of an English bull and two cows purchased
of the Northwest Company, the first cattle brought to the Red
river settlers was a drove of 300 driven up in 1821 from Mis
souri. When the drovers were ready to go home five Swiss
families accompanied them as far as the military encampment,
which has since become Fort Snelling, and they became the first
tillers of the soil in Hennepin county. In 1823 another party left
the Red river region and with six carts proceeded to Lake Trav
erse, where, hollowing cotton trees into canoes, they descended
in the same to Fort Snelling. After the great flood of 1826, an-

956 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
other party came in Red river carts to the fort. On the 26th of
July, 1831, twenty-five more of the Red river colonists came down,
having been informed that they could have land near the fort and
the use of farming implements. On the 1st day of July, 1835,
Red river emigrants again arrived with sixty head of cattle and
twenty or twenty-five horses, making, since 1821, 489 persons who
had entered Minnesota from the north, many of whose descend
ants are still among us. Central Position.
D'Auvagour, on the 4th of August, 1663, wrote the king of
France relative to the region beyond Lake Superior in these
words: "This, according to general opinion, ought to be the
center of the country."
Today we have abundant evidence that we are standing at the
threshold of a new dominion that is to arise on this plateau of
North America. A few months ago, upon rails of steel, the loco
motive found its way from the Falls of St. Anthony, under the
flag of the Republic, to the city of Winnipeg, in the province of
Manitoba, near the shores of that lake which Grosellites first
visited; and it is only a few weeks since a steamboat, built at
Moorhead in our state, after descending the river and passing
through Lake Winnipeg, ascended the Saskatchewan river, in the
Dominion of Canada, nearly a thousand miles through a region
capable of producing the finest of wheat.
With unshackled hands, free thought and liberty of con
science, the people of the valley of the upper Mississippi and
Red River of the .North may add much to the luster of the great
Republic, born on the 4th of July, 1776. Let us pursue no nar
row policy. Let us welcome the Dane, the Swede, the Norwegian,
the Russian, the German, and all newcomers, with the words of
Basil, the blacksmith, in Longfellow's Evangeline:
"Welcome, once more, my friends, who so long have been friend
less and homeless; ,
Welcome, once more, to a home that is better, perchance, than
the old one !
Here not stony ground provokes the wrath of the farmer;
Smoothly the ploAV-share runs through the soil as a keel through
the water ;

KITTSON COUNTY , 957
Here, too, lands may be had for the asking, and forests of timber,
With few blows of the axe, are hewn and framed into houses."
The spring of 1870 was a lively one in the lower Red River
valley oAving to the so-called rebellion in Manitoba under Louis
Riel and 0 'Donhue, of Fenian fame, and many who were on their
way to Fort Garry that year, among which was the writer of this
article, were forced to make an unwilling sojourn at Pembina,
waiting for the suppression of the rebellion in order to go on to
their destination. The quelling of the insurrection in June by
the British troops once more restored tranquillity and the noise
attached to the whole affair seemed to have drawn the attention
of the outside world and caused quite a stream of emigration into
the valley. In the summer of 1870 the first United States troops
arrived and consisted of two companies of the Twentieth regi
ment, under command of Colonel Lloyd Wheaton, now of the
Philippines. During the summer and fall they encamped on what
is noAv South Pembina, and when winter came they moved into
Fort Pembina, which had been built during the time they were
lying encamped. Fort Pembina was abandoned in May, 1897.
In 1870 Hill, Griggs & Co., of the Red River Steamboat Com
pany, opened an extensive general store and carried as a rule a
stock value of $100,000, the establishment being managed by a
Mr. D. C. Kinzie. In October of that year a gentleman who is now
numbered among the valley's best known public men located at
Pembina, namely, Judson LaMoure. Pie came as United States
marshal and attache of the United States survey department.
He was afterwards deputy collector of customs, and has served
in every legislature of the state of North Dakota since its terri
torial days. At present he holds the office of state senator.
Altogether 1870 was a lively year for this portion of the valley,
and among other institutions established at Pembina that year
was a United States district court and the running of the stage
between St. Cloud and this place commenced. With the opening
of navigation in the year 1871 the Selkirk steamboat of Hill,
Griggs & Co. made her first trip down the river and made mat
ters lively for the International's owners. Henry McKinney
opened a saw mill that year near the junction of the Red and
Pembina rivers, opposite St. Vincent, and the late Nathan Myrick,

958 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
of St. Paul, opened a trading post near Fort Pembina. Business
was moving along smoothly until October, when the Fenian in
vasion of Manitoba under General O'Neil caused some stir, but
was soon quieted by the arrest of the invading chief by the
United States troops. A United States land office, which did a
lively business all season, opened in December, 1870, with N. B.
Brasher as commissioner. The first patent for a quarter section
being issued to Hon. N. E. Nelson, of the United States customs
at Pembina. From 1873 to 1882.
The year 1873 opened with brighter prospects than ever for
this part of the valley, and within the limits of Pembina there was
a custom house, a postoffice, a signal station, three stores were
in operation, while the manufactories were represented by Mc
Kinney 's saw mill and Daniel's blacksmith shop. A stage line,
a telegraph line and two lines of steamboats now tapped the
valley and in every other way presented appearances of coming
prosperity. The St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba, or what is
now the Great Northern Railway, had reached Crookston, only
ninety miles south, and Avas expected soon to reach this vicinity,
but the great panic of 1873 struck like a thunderstorm and put
an end to all commercial confidence, and as a natural consequence
to all railroad construction and other such enterprises in the
West. The hopes of the people were suddenly blighted and hard
times were felt all over the then frontier. For a few years, there
fore, little progress was made in business, and although the rich
lands of this portion of the Red River valley were open for set
tlement, few immigrants came into the country. In 1875 the
mercantile business was even less than in 1871, and farming
operations on both sides of the river of this immediate vicinity
did not cover more than 800 acres in crop. In 1876 settlers began
to come in thick, and with the close of 1878 the construction of
the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Manitoba railway was completed to
St. Vincent, and from that date the active settlement of Kittson
county and this part of the Red River valley began.
The wise policy of the United States government was to parcel
out its land in small farms to actual settlers, selling none to non-

WILLIAM S. DEACON

KITTSON COUNTY 959
residents, and allowing no one rights to secure more than three-
quarters of a section, or a total of 480 acres. This large amount
Avas possible to be obtained from the government only by use of
three separate rights, each securing a quarter section, according
to the respective laAvs for homesteads, pre-emption and tree cul
ture. Most of the farms received from the government comprise
only 160 acres, and these were deeded, upon payment of small
fees at the land offices, to any citizens, including naturalized for
eigners, those affirming their intention to become naturalized
legal voters, and widows and unmarried women, all of whom were
required to take the land to be their permanent homes. For
these free gifts of the fertile prairie of the Red River valley,
surpassed by no other era of the world in its natural value for
agriculture, multitudes came, bringing housekeeping equipments
in their immigrant wagons (prairie schooners), which passed in
long processions through St. Cloud and Alexandria, Minn., on
their way from older portions of this state and from states further
east and south. Many also came directly from the old world,
especially from Sweden and Norway, being carried from the
Eastern seaports by railroads, and soon established on their own
freeholds in near neighborhoods with others of their countrymen
who had come to the United States many years earlier.
A considerable number of very large farms were acquired,
however, by discerning capitalists, who saw the capabilities of
this district for the convenient employment of large companies
of laborers, marshaled with almost military order in the various
operations of farming, as in plowing, seeding and threshing, and
who at an early stage in the rapid progress of settlement foresaw
the profits of wheat-raising on a grand scale. These "bonanza
farms," as they were afterwards called, were made up in great
part by purchasing from the railroad corporations the odd-num
bered alternate sections, which had been given as government
subsidies to foster the early railroad enterprises that opened this
region to settlement. But the railroad lands formed no compact
tract, being in square miles, touching each other only at the cor
ners, like the spots of a single color on a checkerboard. To
remedy this difficulty and fill out a continuous tract, many of
the intervening portions were obtained by purchase from the

960 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
settlers who had received the land from the government in good
faith, with full intention of continuing to live on it, but in some
instances claims were also obtained from the -government by
fraudulent agents, who professed their intention to comply with
this legal requirement in taking land by pre-emption. Among the
most famous and successful of these extensive farms were the
Lockhart and Keystone farms in Minnesota; the Dwight, Fair-
view, Keystone, Cleveland, Downing and Antelope farms on the
Dakota side; the Dalrymple farm near Fargo, comprising some
30,000 acres ; the Grandin farm, 40,000 acres, and the Elk Valley
farm near Larimore. In some fields of these great farms the
teams plowed three and four miles straight forward, only being
interrupted by roads on the section lines, where the plow was
thrown out of the ground for a few rods. The first breaking on
both the Dalrymple and the Grandin farms was in 1875, the same
year in which the land was mostly purchased, and their first
crop of wheat was harvested in 1876, with an aA7erage yield of
nearly forty bushels to the acre. During every year since that
time the harvest on these lands and in general throughout the
valley have been good, with no failure on account of drouth,
which for several years (from 1885 to 1889 and again since 1892)
has been very severe upon many other portions of the country
east, south and west of this fertile valley of the Red River of
the North. Transformation.
The transformation, growth and development of this great
valley was the product of omnipotent though invisible forces.
But yesterday, seemingly, an unbounded expanse of prairie, a
vast unknown country, the abode of savagery, the happy hunting
ground of the nomads of the plains. The world is familiar with
its phenomenal growth. In one brief generation we have looked
with amazement at the flight of vast herds of Buffalo, and hordes
of painted men before the advancing caravans of the immigrants,
seen the locomotive climb chamois-like over its hills and valleys,
seen a web of steel spread over its surface by the great spider of
commerce, the tepees of the Indian swept away to make room for
the factory, church and schoolhouse, and amid the roar of mill

KITTSON COUNTY 961
wheels, the din of factory whistles and the clatter of wheels of
trade, the people of the East have swept with their telescopes
this great fertile valley for new homes and one county at least in
this land of golden grain, Kittson County,
has caught their eye and now comes the query, What new wonders
has nature's storehouse given to enrich? Most aptly it has been
said, "The home is the bulwark of civilization." It is the nucleus
around Avhich clusters in rich profusion the sublimest memories
of the most beautiful sentiments and the truest and noblest as
pirations of the human race. Poverty and pain, penury and want
may oft be unbidden guests and the hubbub and turmoil of life 's
fierce conflict may rage with fury unrestrained — the home remains
— a refuge sublime. Mid storms and tempests, sunshine and
shadows, and through all the quick changing scenes of life 's great
drama, still 'stands the home. An oasis in the desert — the solitary
star in all the firmament whose faithful rays guide unerring the
feet of wayward humanity into higher, nobler and better paths.
Going back to the first actual settlement of Kittson county in
1878, we find that the county Avas organized the following year,
when Gov. John S. Pillsbery appointed the following board of
county commissioners : Robert Thompson, chairman ; E. W. Jadis
and D. F. Brawley. The first meeting of the board was held
April 8, 1879, when the following county officers were appointed :
H. Eustrom, auditor; Patrick Carrigan, treasurer; Peter Daily,
register of deeds; John A. Vanstrum, sheriff; George B. Elliott,
county attorney. The first term of district court was held in
July, 1881, with Judge 0. P. Stearns presiding and F. M. Mc
Laughlin, clerk. Prom this period we find that in a few years
Kittson county has grown from almost a wilderness to a popula
tion of nearly 10,000, and that among the first who came here to
make their homes were Robert Thompson, R. Doran, N. D. Mur
ray, Alexander Turner, J. W. Stewart, John McFarlane, John
Finney, Eric and Ole Narlund, and last, but not least, Andrew
Jerome, who may be honored by being called the father of Kitt
son county, having settled on his farm at the junction of the Two
and Red rivers, and has made his home there ever since. While

962 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Kittson county has a variety of natural resources, agriculture and
stock-raising is the main corner stone of its prosperity. It has
long ago gained a world-wide reputation as being the banner
county of the Red River valley, the bread basket of the world.
The Climate.
The climate advantages of the Red River valley and Kittson
county are of a high order. A distinguished feature is its dry
air, which modifies summer heat and winter cold. Markings on
the thermometer do not indicate the effects upon the constitution
by the extremes of temperature. The summer air is not sultry
and debilitating, nor is the winter atmosphere charged with
moisture, which gives one the chilly feeling common to lower
latitudes. The mercury often falls considerably below zero, but
the seArerity of the cold is so tempered by a dry atmosphere that
extremely cold weather and storms never come together. The
winter oA7ercoat you wear in Illinois or Iowa Avill keep you warm
on the coldest day in Kittson county, but it will be a cold day for
a citizen from this section if he visits the windy city of Chicago
in winter with no better protection than the clothing he wears in
Kittson county. It Avould be advisable for him to supplement
his outfit by a chest protector, a woolen jersey, a heavy muffler,
a pair of ear muffs and a pair of felt shoes, if he would escape
an attack of pneumonia. The Red River valley has long enjoyed
a reputation as a sanitarium for persons suffering from lung and
throat trouble. Malaria here is unknown ; it is a country exempt
from complaints common to the fever ridden valleys of the Avarm
belts. The average annual rainfall is about tAventy-eight inches.
There is noAvhere on the continent a more healthful climate than
that of the Red River valley and here in Kittson county. The
new-comer does not have to be acclimated. The chill and fever
and malarial troubles generally, which used to be regarded as an
unavoidable incident to the settlement of a new country, are un
known here. The stranger from the East takes delight in inhal
ing the health-giving air of this section. He finds in it something
that invigorates. He is told that it is ozone and from thenceforth,
especially if he has weak lungs, he thanks God for ozone even
if he has but a vague idea of what ozone is.

KITTSON COUNTY 963
The Wonderful Fertility of the Soil
and the entire absence of sloughs and waste lands will continue
to attract new-comers here, and from this time on the further
development of the county will be rapid and continuous, so when
you have the opportunity of buying a farm and home in the Red
River valley at the present low prices, why not come to Kittson
county, the most productive district in the entire valley, whose
grand rolling prairies and timbered openings intersected by rip
pling streams and beautiful lakelets of pure sparkling water
present the ideal of farm homes? Here nature bountifully pro
vides all that is desirable for the most successful agriculture.
The soil is of wonderful productiveness, being a rich black loam
with a clay subsoil. Other sections of the country have perhaps
•as good surface soil, but the distinguishing features of that of
Kittson county is that it is not so sandy as that portion of the
valley west of the Red river, but is a black loam, made from
vegetable compound during the overflow of the Red river in
ages past, and it is very like that on the Missouri river bottoms
of Iowa and further south, and is productive as the made lands of
the Yazoo Delta of the Mississippi or along the Euphrates or
River Nile. It contains a sufficient amount of sand to make a
quick growth of all grain or vegetables, and is especially adapted
to the growing of grain and roots. It is the only soil in the
world that will produce a crop without rain or without irrigation
and there must be a plausible reason for this fact, and we will
tell what it is.
The ground freezes to a considerable depth here, and as a
consequence there most always is frost in the ground as late as
July. Any one who is familiar with farming will tell you that
so long as there is frost in the ground that it continues to send
up a dampness, which comes in contact with the roots of the
crop, and affords ample moisture from nature's own way. Here
is the theory for the raising of No. 1 hard wheat of this country.
All wheat has a "tap root" which penetrates the earth to a great
depth, thus it not only reaches the damp ground, but acts as a
conductor of the coolness up and into the stem, thus making hard

964 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
wheat. This theory has been thoroughly demonstrated, which
accounts for the country withstanding a drouth.
Never in the history of the Red River valley of Minnesota
did the farmer ever suffer a failure of crops, .and the average
for wheat has never been less than eighteen bushels per acre.
In the report of the British delegation of farmers who visited
this section a few years ago we find that they give the
enormous yield of forty-two and a half bushels, which they saw
harvested on the field of Hon. W. F. Kelso, four miles from this
city. James Ingles, also of this county, was awarded a diploma
at the World's Fair in 1893 for the excellence of his grain. But
it is not on Avheat alone that the Kittson county farmer need
depend. Corn flourishes in the most northern counties of the
state. At the World's Fair Minnesota secured some twenty-five
awards for corn, most of the specimens exhibited having been
grown in the counties of the Red River valley. Awards were also
made for barley, oats, rye, flax, field peas, beans, etc. Altogether
Minnesota secured at the World's Fair 230 aAvards on grain and
seeds, a greater percentage in proportion than obtained by any
other state or by any foreign country, and the column containing
specimens of grain, small seeds and grasses from the Red River
valley of Minnesota, contributed by the Great Northern Railway
Company, collected from the settlers on its lands, took the highest
awards for that class of exhibits at the fair, a gold medal and
two diplomas. Potatoes and Other Vegetables.
The Red River valley potato is a large, robust fellow who will
not take a back seat for anybody. The tubers of this section are
dry, mealy and excellent keepers. They yield from 150 to 500
bushels to the acre and bring a good price. Everything in the
line of vegetables which grow in the north temperate zone grow
to perfection here. Peas ripen by the middle of June, onions
flourish excellently, while beets and cabbage attain an enormous
size. Wild Fruits.
Cranberries, high bush and those growing upon vines in wet,
low places, are found growing wild in this country, requiring

KITTSON COUNTY 965
no care or attention save that of picking and making into pies
and jellies, and are much better, command a higher price in the
market than those from cultivated fields in the East. Plums and
other small wild fruits abound, and the many baskets sent away,
saying nothing of those used here, show this to be true. Hun
dreds of bushels of blueberries are picked and shipped out of this
country — that is, from the eastern portion of the county, as that
section contains more timber. Tame fruit, such as strawberries,
crabapples, etc., grow very prolifically.
Joseph E. Bouvette, editor and proprietor of the "Kittson
County Enterprise," is one of the well known men of his pro
fession, as well as one of the pioneers of the Northwest. He was
born in this state and his life has been spent in this region. It
is filled with incidents, many of them connected with the Indian
times in this section, and of later years he has been identified with
the growth of civilization and has aided materially in the same.
He is a native of St. Cloud, Stearns county, Minnesota, and was
born August 17, -18€&» He is the third in order of birth of a f am-
ly born to Prank and Mary (Gandri) Bouvette. The family
started for Fort Garry in 1869, and spent some time at George
town, Port Abercrombie and McAuleyville. Upon reaching the
international boundary line their outfit with which they traveled,
consisting of Red river carts, was captured by Louis Riel, of the
Northwest rebellion, and 0 'Donahue, the Fenian leader, and they
were detained several days. This delay, and afterwards meeting
with British forces who were coming to garrison English Fort
(now West Emerson), which Riel had under capture, and the fre
quent Sioux Indian outbreaks west of Pembina, caused his father
to change his course, and he accordingly settled near Port Pem
bina, N. D., which was then being built and in command of Col.
Loyd Wheaton, now of the Philippines. Port Pembina was at
that time garrisoned by several companies of the Twentieth
United States infantry, affording good protection against Indians
to white settlers who were at that time pushing west. This was
the wildest of wild country at the time, and amid these sur
roundings our subject was reared. He, however, received a good
common school education in English and also speaks French,
and is fairly versed in the Indian language. He made the best

966 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
of his opportunities and entered the office of the "Pioneer Ex
press" when a boy and remained there eight years, learning the
newspaper business thoroughly. He was appointed inspector of
United States customs at Fort Pembina under the Harrison ad
ministration, and also served two years as deputy state game
warden at large for the State of Minnesota, under Governor John
Lind. In 1894 he purchased the "Kittson County Enterprise,"
which he has since conducted. The paper was established in
1882, by W. F. Wallace, who sold the plant to Ed. H. Love, from
whom our subject purchased the same, and he has made a suc
cess of the paper. It is a strictly Democratic organ and has a
good circulation, and is considered one of the bright exchanges
of the newspaper world of northern Minnesota. Mr. Bouvette
was married in 1895 to Miss Nellie E. Chevins. Two children
have been born to bless their home, upon whom they have be
stowed the names of Clifford W. and Mildred E. Mr. Bouvette
is quite prominent in public affairs of local importance, and has
served ten years as chairman of the Democratic county commit
tee and is also member of the congressional committee. He is
prominent in fraternal circles, and holds membership in the I. 0.
0. F., A. 0. U. W., M. W. A., 0. E. S., and A. F. and A.
M. societies.

CHAPTER XLIII.
NORMAN COUNTY.
Location and Drainage — Population — Postoffices, Cities and Vil
lages — Industries — Banks and Banking — Newspapers.
Norman county lies along the east bank of the Red River,
and is bounded on the north by Polk county, on the east by
Mahnomen county, which was originally a part of Norman, on
the south by Clay county, and one township in Becker county,
and on the west, across the Red River in North Dakota, by Traill
and Cass counties. The county comprises practically twenty-
four government townships, with a few fractional sections on the
west, caused by the windings of the river.
The service is fertile, and being well watered by the Wild
Rice river and its branches, and the Marsh river and its tribu
taries, as well as by the Red River, is admirably adapted to gen
eral farming and stock raising, dairying being one of the princi
pal industries.
Two branches of the Great Northern cross the county, north
and south, in the western and central portions, and in the eastern
portion the Northern Pacific crosses in the same general direction.
Along the line of these three branches are many small, but
thriving villages, with the industries and stores usually found
in such places.
Six newspapers and one religious paper are published. The
"Norman County Herald," established in 1888, is published
every Wednesday by Jason Weatherhead, and has a circulation of
1,135 copies. The "Norman County Index" is published every
Thursday by D. C. Leightbourn. It was established in 1880,
967

968 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
and has a circulation of 1,200 copies. Both of these papers are
published in Ada. At Gary, A. T. Thompson issues the "Graphic"
every Saturday, the circulation being about 500. At Hendrum,
the "Red River Review," established in 1899, is issued by M.
A. Widsten. The circulation is about 500. J. D. Mason issues
the "Times" at Twin Valley every Wednesday. The paper was
established in 1896, and has a circulation of something over 750
copies. The "Reporter," with a circulation of about 500, is pub
lished at Halstad by Edward Sullivan. The "Folkets Blad," a
Norwegian-Danish religious publication, is issued twice a month
by Cornelius Strand, and has a circulation of 1,000. It was es
tablished at Ada in 1906.
Norman county has ten banks. At Ada there are two, each
having a capital stock of $25,000. The First National of that
city has C. M. Sprague as President, and C. J. Lofgren as Cashier.
At the First State, Sylvester Peterson is President, and H.
Jenkins, Jr., Cashier. The First Bank of Gary has a capital
stock of $5,000. W. R. Matthews is the President, and D. C.
Jones the Cashier. The First State Bank of Hendrum has a
capital stock of $10,000. H. O. Rask is President, and A. M.
Eckmann, Cashier. Twin Valley has two banks. The Citizens
State Bank is capitalized at $10,000. E. M. Niles is President,
and M. E. Dahl Cashier. The First National Bank has a capital
stock of $25,000. A. L. Hanson is President, and C. E. Peterson
Cashier. Halstad also has two banks. The State Bank is capi
talized at $20,000, with Burre B. Larson as President, and Knute
O. Slette as Cashier, while the First National with a capital stock
of $25,000 has Harold Thorson as President, and John O. Lyng-
stad as Cashier. The Bank of Perley is capitalized at $10,000
with M. T. Weum as President, and S. S. Dalen as Cashier.
The State Bank of Shelly has a capital stock of $10,000, and
John S. Tucker is President, and J. W. C. Anderson, Cashier of
the institution. These banks are all in a thriving and prosperous
condition, and their volume of business speaks well for the
sagacity, thrift and business integrity of the county.
The county has an excellent public school system, the teach
ers being competent, and the school buildings neat and commo
dious, with well kept grounds. The church edifices, which are

NORMAN COUNTY 969
numerous, proclaim the people a God-fearing and law-abiding
community. The population of the county is estimated at about 18,000
souls, who are supplied with mail from seventeen postoffices,
located at Ada, Borup, Faith, Flaming, Flom, Fossum, Gary,
Hadley, Halstad, Heiberg, Hendrum, Lockhart, Perley, Shelly,
Syre, Twin Valley and Wheatville.
Ada, the county seat, has a population of 1,515. It is a pros
perous incorporated village, governed by a village council, and
is located on the northern division of the Great Northern rail
road, 265 miles northwest of St. Paul, and thirty-four south of
Crookston. It is the center of a fine agricultural section and
large quantities of wheat are annually exported. Two weekly
newspapers, the "Index" and the "Herald" are published. The
village has two banks, graded and high schools, Catholic, Con
gregational, German and Norwegian Lutheran and Methodist
churches, a library, a creamery, three hotels, five grain elevators,
flour and saw mills, a brick yard and two opera houses. The soil
in the vicinity is a rich loam and highly productive. Land is
valued at from $15 for wild to $35 for improved land per acre.
The village has telephone service, Western Union telegraph, Great
Northern Express, daily mail, and the usual village improve
ments. Anthony was first settled in 1873. It is located on the Marsh
river in Anthony township, ten miles northeast of Ada and eight
miles east of Halstad. There is one church, a United Lutheran,
and the Aillage has a creamery, a blacksmith shop, a feed mill
and a general store and is supplied with a telephone service.
Borup, a village with a population of 145, in Winchester town
ship, is on the Great Northern, eight miles south of Ada, having
been settled in 1897. It has a Norwegian Lutheran church, a
bank, a hotel, three grain elevators, one creamery, and a number
of stores. The village is equipped with telephone service, and
has the Great Northern Express and Western Union telegraph.
Betcher is on Spring creek in Green Meadow township, nine
miles northeast of Ada, and eight miles west of Gary. It con
tains a Lutheran church, a creamery and two general stores.
Faith, now having a population of 50, is twenty-five miles

970 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
east of Ada. It was settled in 1872, and has a general store, a
creamery and a feed and saw mill.
Flaming is a flag station on the Northern Pacific, twenty-two
miles northeast of Ada and six miles north of Gary. It has
telephone, mail and express service.
Flom, in Flom township, has a population of thirty. It was
first settled in 1863 and has a Norwegian Lutheran church, a
public school, creamery, saw and feed mill, general store, livery,
hardware store and restaurant. It has telephone service, but
for telegraph and express depends on Ada, twenty-seven miles
to the northAvest and Twin Valley, twelve miles in the same di
rection. Fossum is in Fossum township, twenty miles southeast of
Ada and five southeast of Twin Valley. It was founded in 1872,
and has a Lutheran church, a general store and a blacksmith.
Folkedahl is a settlement in Lake Ida township.
Gary, noAV having a population of 300, was settled in 1883.
It is on the Northern Pacific railroad, 285 miles northwest of
St. Paul, and seventeen miles northeast of Ada. The village
contains a graded school, a United Lutheran church, four grain
elevators, two hotels, several stores, a bank, feed and saw mills,
a creamery, a newspaper and an electric light plant, and has
good mail, express, telephone and telegraph service.
Goldner is a settlement ten miles southwest of Ada.
Hadler Avas formerly knoAvn as Wicklow. It is a small settle
ment five miles north of Ada, and has a general store.
Halstad is an incorporated village on the branch of the Great
Northern road. It is 275 miles northwest of St. Paul and eighteen
miles in the same direction from Ada. The Aillage is governed
by a council, has two banks, Methodist and Lutheran churches,
a new $20,000 school building, four grain elevators, two hotels,
a flour mill, a weekly newspaper, and the usual stores and busi
ness houses. A creamery handles the dairy products of the sur
rounding country, and telephone, telegraph, mail and express
service add to the comforts of life.
Heiberg has a general store and a flour mill. It is on the
Northern Pacific, twelve miles east of Ada and tAvo miles north
of Twin Valley.

NORMAN COUNTY 971
Hendrum, now having a population of 368, was organized as
an incorporated village several years ago, having been settled
in 1881. It is on the Great Northern, sixteen miles from Ada
and 265 miles from St. Paul. The village is in a flourishing
condition and aside from the usual stores and general places of
business, has four grain elevators, a feed mill, a bank, Norwegian
and Presbyterian churches, a hotel and a weekly newspaper, with
good telephone, mail, express and telegraph service.
Lockhart is on the Northern Pacific, ten miles north of Ada.
It has a creamery, two grain elevators, a general store and a
blacksmith, as well as telephone, mail and express service.
Marsh River, fifteen miles northwest of Ada, is supplied with
mail from the rural route out of Halstad.
Navaree is thirteen miles northeast of Ada and receives its
mail at Betcher.
Perley is in Lee township on the Great Northern railroad and
the Red River. It is 250 miles northwest of St. Paul and twenty-
two miles southwest of Ada. The village was setlted in 1880 and
has a bank, a creamery, a flour mill, a hotel, three grain eleva
tors, two Lutheran churches, the usual stores and places of
business, with telephone, telegraph, mail and express service.
Polk City is a settlement twenty miles from Ada.
Rolette is the name formerly borne by Lockhart, mentioned
above. Ranum is twenty-two miles northeast of Ada, and receives its
mail by rural route from Flaming.
Qual, twenty-three miles southeast of Ada receives its mail
by rural route from Twin Valley.
Shelly was first settled in 1896. It is on the Great Northern,
twenty miles northwest of Ada, and has a Lutheran church, a
bank, a feed mill, grain elevator, lumber yard, saloon, general
stores and the usual places of business. It also has express,
telephone, telegraph and mail service.
Strand is a discontinued postoffice twenty miles northeast
of Ada. Sundahl, twenty-three miles northeast of Ada receives its mail
by rural route from Flaming.

972 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Syre is on the Northern Pacific, sixteen miles southeast of
Ada and six miles south of Twin Valley. It has two general
stores, and telephone and mail service.
Twin Valley has a population of 632. Settled in 1874 it is
situated on the Northern Pacific railroad and Wild Rice river,
276 miles northwest of St. Paul and fifteen miles east of Ada. It
is governed by a village council, and contains the usual stores,
restaurants, professional men, and general business houses, in
cluding a steam power flouring mill, a $4,000 school house, two
banks, three hotels, four churches, a newspaper and four grain
elevators, with telephone, telegraph, express and mail service.
Waukon receives its mail by rural route from Gary.
Wheatville is on the Great Northern, five miles south of Ada.
It has a general store and several smaUer places of business.

CHAPTER XLIV.
BIOGRAPHY.
Hans H. Aaker, proprietor of Aaker 's Business College, was
born on a farm near Ridgeway, Iowa, on the 16th day of April,
1862. His father, Hans 0. Aaker, was born in Sauland, Telemar-
ken, Norway, in 1825. He emigrated to Winneshiek county, Iowa,
where he was one of the early settlers and for fifty years a promi
nent and well to do farmer. Ragnild Aaker (nee Gutehus), the
mother of H. H. Aaker, was born in Hjertdal, Telemarken, Nor
way, and was married to Hans 0. Aaker just before his emigra
tion to this country. Young Aaker received a good primary
education and entered Luther's College at Decorah, Iowa, where
he remained nearly four years, when, coming to the conclusion
that a business course would suit him better than preparation for
the ministry, he entered a business college at Decorah, graduating
in 1882, and from the commercial department of the Valparaiso
University, Valparaiso, Ind., in 1883. Mr. Aaker then assumed
charge of the commercial department of the Willmar Seminary, a
new school started in 1883 at Wilmar, Minn., by Prof. A. M. Hove,
later a teacher at Augsburg Seminary, Minnesota; Prof. H. S.
Hilleboe, now principal of the schools at Benson, Minn., and Mr.
Aaker. The seminary was one of the first schools of its kind in
the Northwest, and grew in five years from twelve pupils to 250.
In 1888 Mr. Aaker decided to engage in business and resigned his
school position and in partnership with a brother opened a mer
cantile house in Twin Valley, where a profitable business was
carried on. In 1891 the Northwestern Lutheran College Associa
tion was incorporated and a school styled Concordia College was
started at Moorhead. The record made by Prof. Aaker at the
Willmar Seminary was well known and the officers of the new
973

974 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
school were very anxious to secure his services. Finally he was
induced to accept a position with this institution. In January,
1892, he assumed charge of the commercial department and two
years later he was elected principal of the school. Concordia Col
lege is one of the most prosperous schools in the Northwest.
In political matters he is known as a Prohibitionist, and he
has taken an active part in the Avork of the party. While located
at Twin Valley he was the party nominee for county superin
tendent of schools and lost by a narrow margin. In 1892 he Avas
the Prohibition candidate for secretary of state. In the spring of
1900 the business men of Moorhead requested Professor Aaker
to become a candidate for mayor. The city had been for many
years the dumping ground of the drinking element of Fargo, N.
D., a city across the state line, and under Prohibition laws. ' The
resorts barred from Fargo found a place in Moorhead, and, as no
relief could be obtained from the regular nominees, the business
men decided upon Mr. Aaker, as the man to redeem the fair name
of the city. He was elected by a plurality of eighty votes over the
opposing candidates. In the spring of 1900, Mr. Aaker was nom
inated for congress by the Prohibitionists . of the Seventh Con
gressional district. He was also a candidate for the nomination
of the People's party and had the support of the leading men of
the party, but owing to saloon influence he was defeated for the
nomination. Mr. Aaker, though defeated, ran ahead of his ticket,
receiving more than double the votes east for the nominee for
Governor. Mr. Aaker is a member of the United Norwegian
Lutheran Church of America. He was married, September 5, 1900,
to Miss Annette Peterson, for several years at Concordia College.
He resigned his position at Concordia College, in the summer of
1902, and opened his business college in Fargo, October 27, 1902.
He ran for governor on the Prohibition ticket in 1904. In 1906
he made a strong campaign against gambling and prostitution,
in Fargo, as candidate for mayor on a strict enforcement plat
form. He is president of the Direct Legislation League, and also
of the Scandinavian Republican League.
Francis W. Ames, is a well known citizen of MayA7ille, N. D.,
who has been prominently identified with his county and state
since his coming to North Dakota, in October, 1880. He is a

ANDREW A. BRUCE

BIOGRAPHY 975
native of Wiscasset, Maine, where he was born, December 16,
1851. His father, Charles H. Ames, was a carriage maker. Hav
ing passed the days of his boyhood at home, at school, in the work
shop and in the field. The young man entered Trinity College,
Hartford, Connecticut, and graduated from that institution with
the class of 1876. He then studied law in the office of H. C. Rob
inson, Hartford, Connecticut, and was admitted to practice in the
courts of that state in 1879. In October, 1880, he came to North
Dakota, and in 1881 settled at Caledonia, Traill county. In 1885, he
removed to MayviUe, where he has resided since that time. In 1881,
he was appointed clerk of the district court, by Judge Hudson, and
in 1888, was elected state's attorney of Traill county, serving the
public in that official capacity four years. In 1898, he was elected
state senator, and in 1893, was appointed reporter of the supreme
court, and is still holding that position. In addition to his pro
fessional life, Judge Ames, is identified with a number of business
enterprises. He is vice-president of the First National Bank of
MayviUe, First National Bank of Hatton, and also of the North-
wood Trust and Safety bank. ' He has been a member of the I. 0.
0. F. since 1882.
Judge Ames was married to Lucia A. Phelps, May 30, 1883, at
Rockford, Iowa. Children granted to this couple are Miss Cora
I. Ames, born September 11, 1884, a graduate of the MayviUe
Normal, in the class of 1906, and now a teacher at Casselton, N.
D. ; Miss Lillian R. Ames, born October 19, 1886, a graduate of the
MayviUe Normal in 1908. Both of these young ladies are repre
sented in the engraA'ing with their father. Chauncey C. Ames,
born July 13, 1890, and Harold F., born March 16, 1893.
Anton O. Anderson, manager of the Advance Thrasher Com
pany, of Grand Porks, North Dakota, was born at Lake Crystal,
Minnesota, on April 7, 1872. His parents were Ole W. and Elsie
(Farmer) Anderson, both natives of Norway. Father came to
the United States in 1853, and mother in 1871.
Anton 0. received a good common school education at Hills
boro, N. D. He then spent two years at Willmar Sem
inary, Willmar, Minn., and one year at the Lutheran College,
at Decorah, Iowa. From 1899 to 1903, was engaged in the imple
ment business at Northwood, North Dakota, Avhen he sold out

976 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
and became traveling salesman for the Advance Thrasher Com
pany, until 1905, when he took charge as manager of their branch
house at Grand Forks.
Mr. Anderson came to North Dakota in June, 1877, and with
his father settled on a homestead at Hillsboro. He has taken an
active interest in political matters, was reading clerk in the house
of representatives, session of 1897, and was chief clerk during
session of 1903. He is a member of the Masonic Order, and the A.
0. U. W.
Mr. Anderson was married in 1898, to Miss Sadie Shelburn, of
Grand Porks, North Dakota, and has three children, Marion,
Arthur, and Helen.
A. T. Austinson, one of the founders and builders of the village
of Ulen, Minnesota, was born in Norway, May 5, 1857. His
parents were Torkle and Guri (Descud) Austinson.
Mr. Austinson came to the United States in 1868, and settled
first in the toAvn of Primrose, Dane county, Wisconsin, and the
following year moved to Twin Lake, Freeborn county, Minnesota,
where he remained for about two years, and then went to Goose
Prairie township, Clay county, Minnesota, three miles east of
Hitterdal, Avhere he proved up a claim and assisted materially to
organize the town of Goose Prairie. He helped survey the first
county road from Tansem, the north line in eastern Clay county,
and was identified with the entire development from the begin
ning. He was the first assessor in the town of Goose Prairie,
Hagen and Ulen townships, which Avere attached to Goose Prairie
for this purpose. He organized the first school district, No. 28,
and was the first merchant in the village of Ulen, to erect a store,
on December 23, 1886.
Mr. Austinson is decidedly a man of affairs, and as a business
man and citizen has always been identified with the best interests
of his town and county, and has devoted the greater part of his
time, during his residence in Minnesota, to local politics. He was
a member of the first board to organize the toAvn of Goose Prairie,
the others being S. M. Y. Nykrieum and Paul Van Vlissengen.
He was one of the county commissioners and chairman of the
board; he was a delegate to the convention that nominated Mr.
Knud Nelson for congress, in what was termed the  Fifth

BIOGRAPHY 977
district ; he Avas deputy sheriff under W. J. Bakken, from 1882 to
1885, and Avas a delegate to the state congressional and county
com'entions at various times, and member of the congressional
committee when Frank M. Eddie was elected to congress, and a
staunch supporter of the Avinner. He carried the first line of gen
eral merchandise in Ulen village, under the firm name of Austin-
son & Asleson. He secured the petition for the consolidation of
the two schools of Ulen township and removal into the village,
the old school houses are now used as private homes. The present
school building of five rooms was erected largely under his
personal supervision and instrumentality, and he also helped to
issue the bonds for same, he being clerk of the school board for a
number of years, and took great interest in the educational facil
ities of the village. Mr. Austinson was also connected with the
establishment of the roller mill, and the $1,500.00 bonus required
for this, was secured by his efforts and others; the water works
and electric light plant bonds were also issued under his direction.
He was for a time owner and manager of the first newspaper —
the ' ' Ulen Union, ' ' and helped to organize the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows Lodge, in Ulen, and the Modern Woodmen of
America. He was the second postmaster of Ulen, succeeding Mr.
O. C. Melbye ; he was connected with the telephone company, of
Lake Park, was among the founders of the Synod Lutheran
Church, and is inseparably connected with all of its improvements
and one of its principal contributors.
Mr. Austinson is a staunch Republican, and in 1896, was candi
date for sheriff of Clay county, against W. J. Botkin, but lost the
election by three votes, and that in a Populistic locality. Mr.
A. T. Austinson stood almost alone in eastern Clay county, as an
advocate of Republican principles. During the time that the Popu
lists had entire control of both county and state politics he was
offered any position on the Populist ticket, if he would join them.
This was refused, as principal was first in his actions. In the
year of 1904, he was candidate to the house of representatives for
his district, but was defeated in the primaries by a few votes,
when Geo. E. Perley, of Moorhead, was nominated. He is con
tented however, in having the satisfaction that he has been a
material help toward keeping Clay county in the fold of the

978 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Republican party, always taking an active part in the election of
such men as Knud Nelson, Frank M. Eddie and others who have
shown themselves worthy of the confidence of the people.
As a man Mr. Austinson is well respected in the community.
He has always shown himself capable and trustworthy in any
place he has been called to fill, and no man enjoys more public
confidence and esteem than Mr. A. T. Austinson.
Torkle Austinson, father of Mr. A. T. Austinson, a prominent
politician of Ulen township, was born in Hallingdohl, Norway,
July 6, 1826, and is now living with his son, in Ambrose, North
Dakota. He married Miss Gure Oleson, in Norway, in 1854. She
was born, October 7, 1819, and died in the village of Ulen, in 1904,
at the age of eighty-three. They emigrated to the United States,
in the spring of 1868, in a sailing vessel called "Nordna;" it was
a three months' voyage, provisions ran out, almost causing starva
tion among the passengers. They first settled in Primrose town
ship, Dane county, Wisconsin, where they remained until 1869,
and then moved to Freeborn county, Minnesota, and lived there
until 1871, and again started overland in company with Andrew
Larson, for Clay county, and located in Ulen township, where they
took possession of the claim cabin of Arne Evans, in section 28,
but remained but a short time, being frightened away by some
land sharks claiming it Indian Script land. He again moved to
section 27, Goose Prairie township, and that became railroad land,
so he again moved, and this time located in section 26, where he
proved up a homestead and remained until 1887, then sold out to
his son, and moved into the village of Ulen, to his sons.
Mr. and Mrs. Austinson had a family of three children, viz. :
A. T. Austinson, Susie, now the wife of Hans Hanson, and Julia,
wife of 0. S. Naserad, postmaster of Hitterdal.
This venerable couple were charter members of the Lutheran
Church, of Goose Prairie township, and their first child, A. T., was
the first to be confirmed in that pioneer church.
William John Bailey, lumber dealer, of Inkster, North Dakota,
was born December 11, 1854, at Toronto, Canada. His parents,
Alexander and Susan Bailey, were both natives of County Mona
ghan, Ireland. They came to Toronto, in 1840. His father was a
carpenter by trade.

BIOGRAPHY 979
William J. Avas educated in the schools of Toronto, Canada,
and came to Euclid, Minnesota, in 1881, and engaged in the lum
ber business; in 1883 and 1884, he operated a sash and door
factory, at Crookston, Minnesota. In 1884, he removed to North
Dakota, and began his present business at Inkster. He is a mem
ber of the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, B.
P. 0. E., and B. of A. Y.
In 1893, he was married to Miss Hattie A. Stuart. They have
three children, Norman Stuart, Admiral Ross, and John Hollis.
David H. Beecher. The subject of this sketch, Mr. David H.
Beecher, is one of the pioneer and successful bankers of the Red
River Valley, entering this field as a banker in 1884 at Park
River, Walsh county, North Dakota. Mr. Beecher was born in
Rushford, Allegany county, New York, March 15, 1852, where he
resided with his parents until the age of twelve, when the family
removed to Tioga county, New York. At the age of eighteen
he went to Binghamton, New York, to complete his education and
entered business there at the age of twenty-three. He resided
at Binghamton until 1883, when he came to Crookston, Minne
sota. The following year he became associated with Mr. Sidney
Clarke, then Avith the First National Bank of that city, and estab
lished the First National Bank of Park River in Walsh county,
North Dakota, taking up his residence at that place. Mr. Beecher
still retains his connection with this bank, which has grown to
be the largest bank in Walsh county. In 1890 Messrs. Beecher
and Clarke removed to Grand Forks and established the Union
National Bank with $100,000 capital, which institution has made
steady and substantial growth and is recognized as one of the
strongest and most conservative banks in the Red River Valley.
Mr. Beecher continued to extend his banking interests through
the eastern part of the state, the growth of which now shows
him to be the principal officer and leading spirit of five national
banks and twelve state banks, with a total capital and surplus of
nearly $500,000, deposits of $2,000,000 and loans of $1,500,000.
Mr. Beecher has gathered around him as associates several
men of rare genius as bankers, among whom are Mr. Sidney
Clarke, cashier of the Union National Bank of Grand Forks;
Geo. E. Towle, vice president of the First National Bank of Park

980 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
River and treasurer of the Northwestern National Life Insurance
Company of Minneapolis; Karl J. Farup, cashier of the First
National Bank of Park River; Brynjolf Prom, cashier of the
State Bank of Milton; Hon. U. L. Burdick, cashier of the First
National Bank of Munich, who is also present Speaker of the
North Dakota House of Representatives.
It may be said to the credit of Mr. Beecher and his associates
that during the panics of 1893, 1896 and 1907, all of the banks in
which he is associated maintained their usual strong position and
showed careful and conservative management in the largest
degree. Mr. Beecher was married at the age of twenty-seven to Miss
Effie Gifford of Utica, New York. This union was blessed by a
daughter who died in infancy.
In politics Mr. Beecher is a Republican. He has never sought
political honors, but is always found a staunch supporter of the
man he considers both worthy and capable of serving the people.
Hon. Alfred Blaisdell, secretary of state, was born in Fair
mont, Minn., October 29, 1875, and graduated from the Fairmont
High School, class of 1894, and the University of Minnesota, in
1898, receiving the degree of bachelor of science. He was also a
member of the class of 1901, at the college of law, University of
Minnesota. He comes from a family of lawyers for several generations on
both sides of the house. His father, the late Hon. H. M. Blaisdell,
of Fairmont, Minn., one of the oldest practitioners in southern
Minnesota, resided formerly in the state of Maine, where he
studied law with Hon. Eugene Hale, of Ellsworth, and at one time
was a member of the state legislature. Henrietta Crosby Blaisdell,
the mother of our sketch was a daughter of the late Hon. Josiah
Crosby, of Dexter, Me., an active legal practitioner for half a
century, and who served his state as state senator and lieutenant-
governor. After leaving the University of Minnesota, Mr. Blaisdell pur
sued the further study of law Avith Messrs. Newman, Spalding &
Stambaugh, of Fargo. He later formed a partnership with ex-
State's Attorney Hanchett, of Harvey and Fessenden, under the
firm name of Hanchett & Blaisdell, and removed to Minot the

BIOGRAPHY 981
beginning of 1900. He is senior member of the law firm of Blais
dell, Bird & Blaisdell, and vice-president of the Blaisdell-Bird
Company (Inc.), of which his law partner, John A. Bird, is
president. In a political way Mr. Blaisdell has been very fortunate. He
made good as secretary of the Old Re-organizers of Ward county
and as secretary of the Republican County Central Committee of
the successful campaigns in Ward county. Mr. Blaisdell has en
tered political contests with vigor, but on account of his disposi
tion at all times to be fair he has escaped much of the ill-feeling
which falls to the lot of the average citizen who takes active sides
in politics. He was United States Commissioner for many years
in Minot, and was formerly a member of the State Normal Board,
and director of the State Historical Society, in which he takes an
active and personal interest. Socially he is a member of the
Masonic order, Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias, Order of
Eagles, and of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the Min
nesota Commandery.
Mr. Blaisdell was married July 25, 1908, to Miss Grace P.
Emmons, who was born September 23, 1888, at Emmons, Minn.,
the town bearing the family name. Her father, G. H. Em
mons, is a leading general merchant and postmaster there, and
her grandfather, Hon. H. G. Emmons, is one of the oldest living
pioneers of Minnesota, and was formerly a member of the state
legislature in early days. Mrs. Blaisdell is a graduate of Waldorf
College, at Forest City, Iowa.
Mr. Blaisdell was but thirty years of age when nominated at
the Jamestown convention for his first term, having been unan
imously endorsed by the Ward county delegation, his county
being the largest and easting the heaviest vote of any in the state.
Upon taking his oath of office he retired from the active manage
ment of his various business interests in Ward county.
The state department, during his past administration, has
been thoroughly overhauled and systematized.
When a candidate for re-nomination under the new primary
system, he made the issue solely upon his business record in office,
and was successfully re-nominated, and at the general election in
the fall was elected by a large majority. Mr. Blaisdell's major-

982 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ities have always been especially large in his own county of
Ward and the city of Minot, where he has lived some eight years,
and, of course, where he is best known.
Ole Bolstad, who is a successful dentist in active practice at
Northwood, N. D., was born at Ringsaker, Norway, October 3,
1875, son of Ole L. and Thonethe Bolstad. They were farmers
in their native country, being poor tenants till they immigrated
to America in 1880. They arrived at Philadelphia, July 4, that
year, and from there went to Richland county, North Dakota.
Our subject lived on the farm with his parents, received the
rudiments of his education at the district school, which was sup
plemented by a course at the MayviUe Normal, and a two year
scientific course at the University of North Dakota. After which
he took a four year course at the University of Minnesota, grad
uating from the dental department in 1902. When he located at
Northwood, Where he has since remained in the active practice of
his profession.
Mr. Bolstad has taught school, clerked in stores, worked on
the farm, and has taken an active part in politics. He was clerk
of the house of representatives for one year. He is a member of
the Masonic Order, A. 0. U. W., K. of P., and M. W. A.
On December 24, 1906, Dr. Bolstad married Miss Gina Tanger,
of Northwood, who was assistant cashier of the Northwood Trust
and Safety bank. They have one child, Kathleen Iola Theresa.
John F. Brandt. East Grand Forks was successful in mate
rializing their political ideas of municipal ownership in the cam
paign from 1901 to 1903, by the election of Captain John F.
Brandt as their mayor. Municipal ownership had always been
advocated by Captain Brandt, and his advancement to the mayor
alty of the city at that time is what gave them the municipal
ownership of the city light plant.
In 1897, and again in 1898, Captain Brandt was elected city
treasurer of East Grand Forks. In 1899, he was elected mayor of
the city, and this election was followed by two others, one in 1901,
and the other in 1903; the last one immediately preceding the
present incumbent.
Captain Brandt, during the late unpleasantness with Spain,

BIOGRAPHY 983
raised Company P, of the 15th Minnesota Regiment, doing duty at
Augusta, Ga., in command of his company.
General William H. Brown. Probably no one stands higher
in the estimation of every one in the Red River valley than our
esteemed citizen, William H. Brown, first mayor of Grand Porks.
As a pioneer of the place, he was one of the early residents to
blaze the way for others, and to him and his contemporaries the
people of this city owe a debt of gratitude.
General Brown is a native of North Hampton, Mass., where
he was born seventy-seven years ago, dating the event from the
thirteenth of November, 1907. His father, Joseph S. Brown, was
a carpenter, but at one time, served as a stage coach superin
tendent, in the early days of stage driving; also taking charge
of a supply barn of 150 horses. His duties were similar to those
of a division superintendent, but the salary was not so munificent,
as he received only $12.00 per month and board. He died at the
age of eighty-three years, in Grand Porks. General Brown's
mother, was a Miss Lucinda Jones. She was a native of Deer
field, Mass. She died at the age of ninety-eight, in Grand Forks.
At fourteen years of age, young Brown left North Hampton
for Pittsfield, Mass., where he entered a hardware store and
where he thoroughly mastered the principles of that line of trade,
and which subsequently brought him into prominence with the
commercial world.
General Brown's patriotism was never a question of doubt.
At the breaking out of the Civil War, he entered the contest, en
listing as a private soldier on July 21, 1861, in Company B, 10th
Massachusetts Regiment, serving until the close of the war, and
was mustered out as first lieutenant in 1865, in Company A, 61st
Massachusetts, at Arlington, Va., near General Lee's old home.
Following the war period, Mr. Brown went to St. Paul, Minn.,
where he carried on the hardware business for twelve years. In
1877, he came to Grand Forks, and continued his business in the
hardware line. The store stood on the corner of Third Street and
De Mers Avenue ; it was destroyed by fire in 1880.
General Brown was appointed mayor of Grand Porks, and
served two terms. No salary was allowed at that time, but the

984 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
strenuous administration of his duties while holding that office
brought him honors to be coveted by any one in preference to a
salary. The General also served one term in the legislature. He ac
cepted the nomination for this high position with the express
understanding that no string-tied-requirements were to be made
in case of his election. And he served his state as he had done
his city to the best of his ability and best interests of his
constituency. General Brown received his title, as Colonel, from service on
the governor's staff, and that of general in consequence of a
refusal of the governor to accept his resignation as colonel in
honor of his distinguished services. He was appointed on the
governor's staff by Governor Church, the first governor of North
Dakota. At the close of the gubernatorial term of that office, he
resigned the position to give the younger men their chance in the
race of military honors, but was always appointed again, not
withstanding his resignations from that time to the present. The
last governor of North Dakota, however, accepted his resignation
and bestowed upon him the title of general, an honor richly de
served and which has met Avith general approval.
The general resides at the old homestead place, south Fifth
street, Avhere he located Avhen he first came to Grand Forks. His
son, F. A. Brown, now holding a responsible position in the
"EA-ening Times" office, Avas recorder of the city of Grand Forks
for a number of years.
W. H. BroAvn was sergeant-at-arms of the senate of North
Dakota, for three terms, was chief engineer and ordnance officer
with rank of colonel; was also register of the United States land
office located at Grand Forks, was police magistrate of the city of
Grand Forks for eight years, and resigned to accept the appoint
ment of register of land office.
Colonel W. H. Brown served as department commander of
North Dakota Grand Army of the Republic, and always attended
all the national and state encampments, and took active part in
G. A. R. matters. Pie was a delegate of the state on General
Porter's staff, to attend the inauguration of President McKinley's
second term.

DR. J. E. CAVANAGH

BIOGRAPHY 985
Dean Andrew A. Bruce, of the college of law, University of
North Dakota, was born April 15, 1866, in the mountain fort of
Nunda Drug, in Madras, India, of Scotch parents. His father
was General Edward Archibald Bruce, of the British army. His
mother, Anne McMaster Bruce, was a daughter of Colonel Robert
McMaster, of the British army. Both of his parents died when he
was a child and he came alone to America, when fifteen years of
age. He worked his own way through college and graduated
from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Wiscon
sin law school. Pie was appointed secretary to the judges of the
supreme court of Wisconsin, in 1890, and two years later he was
appointed chief clerk of the law department of the Wisconsin
Central Railway. He was attorney for the Illinois State Board
of Factory Inspectors, in 1893-5. He practiced law in Chicago
very successfully from 1893 to 1898. Pie took a leading part in
the enactment and enforcement of the child labor and sweatshop
laws, of both Illinois and Wisconsin. He accepted the professor
ship of law in the University of Wisconsin, in 1898, resigning in
1902 to accept a similar position in the University of North
Dakota, at Grand Forks. Since 1902, he has been dean of the law
college, a position he has filled with honor to the institution. He
has also been president of the state board of bar examiners since
1905. Dean Bruce is a member of the general counsel of the
American Bar Association, of its committee on the classification of
the law and of its bureau of comparative law. He was a delegate
of the American Bar Association to the Universal Congress of
Lawyers and Jurists, at St. Louis, in 1904. He is a member of
the American Bar Association, the North Dakota Bar Association,
the North Dakota State Historical Society, the Grand Forks Com
mercial Club, and the Grand Forks Town and Country Club. Pie
is a frequent contributor to the magazines.
Dean Bruce was married to Miss Elizabeth Bacon Pickett,
June 29, 1899. They have one daughter, Glenn Bruce, and one
son, Edward McMaster Bruce.
Governor John Burke, of North Dakota, was born February
25; 1859, in Keokuk county, Iowa, near where the town of Harper
was subsequently located. He was educated in the common
schools and grew to manhood on the farm. He entered the law

986 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
department of the Iowa State University as a student in Sep
tember, 1884, and graduated therefrom in June, 1886. He com
menced the practice of law in Des Moines, Iowa, in the fall of
1886, entering into partnership with his brother, Judge Thomas
C. Burke, now of Baker City, Ore. Two years later, feeling that
the Northwest offered greater inducements to a young lawyer,
he left his native state and located in Rolette county, North
Dakota. Unflagging industry and uncompromising honesty, coupled
with brilliancy of mind and devotion to the highest professional
ideals, soon brought him clients from all parts of the young state.
He soon acquired a reputation as a great trial lawyer, and his
splendid success in hundreds of forensic battles, disclose the true
foundation for his reputation. He afterwards removed to Devils
Lake, from which place he could more easily reach the different
parts where his services were in demand.
On August 22, 1891, he was married to Miss Mary Kane, of
Waukesha, Wis. They have three children, Elizabeth, Thomas
and Marian. Mrs. Burke is a bright and accomplished lady and
her Avifely counsel and companionship has contributed a great
deal to her husband's advancement and success.
Governor Burke served two years as- county judge of Rolette
county. He was elected to the state legislature, a member of the
lower house, in 1891, and to the senate in 1892, serving in the
latter body in 1893 and 1895. He was honored by the Democratic
party with the nomination for attorney general in 1894, for con
gress in 1896, and for district judge in 1900. In 1906 he was
called upon to accept the nomination for governor, and while his
opponent had been elected two years before by a plurality of
31,282, he was elected by a large plurality — a worthy tribute to
an honest, clean, fearless man.
In 1908 he was unanimously renominated by his party, and the
satisfaction of the voters with his administration was proven by
his re-election.
Governor Burke is considered one of the great political speak
ers of the day. His two campaigns for the governorship were
without parallel in political annals of the Northwest and estab
lished his reputation as one of the greatest and most effective

BIOGRAPPIY 987
campaign orators of the country. He is one of the leading and
potent factors of the Democratic party of North Dakota. He is
a man possessed of so many sterling qualities that he has made a
host of friends throughout the state, regardless of political
affiliations. His administration has been clear and clean cut as
well as business-like. Many changes have been effected and he
enjoys the confidence and respect of the people of the state.
James Arnold Canniff, of Grand Forks, N. D., was born in
Ontario, Canada, November 5, 1868. His parents were Thomas
O. and Elizabeth J. Canniff. He was educated in the schools of
Grand Forks, and commenced business in 1885, succeeding T. C.
Canniff, in the wall paper, paint and oil business. He was elected
alderman of Grand Forks, in 1896, and served nine years. He
served as chairman of the Republican County Central Committee
in 1904-5. He is a member of the Elks, Knights of Pythias, and
Odd Fellows.
On June 17, 1893, Mr. Canniff was married at Grand Porks,
to Miss Edna M. Follinsbee, and they have two children, Ethel
and Thomas.
Hon. John Carmody, who has been a member of the bar of
North Dakota, nearly a quarter of a century, is a native of Wis
consin. He was born on a farm in the town of Granville, in
MUwaukee county, January 6, 1854, and is a son of John and
Mary (Purcell) Carmody. He acquired his schooling in the com
mon schools of his native place and of Waseca county, Minne
sota, whither his parents moved when he was fourteen years old,
and also attended the high schools of Waseca and Faribault.
With this preparatory education he became a law student, and
clerk in the office of the Hon. James E. Child, at Waseca, and
when twenty-six years old, in March, 1880, was admitted to the
bar of Minnesota. He practiced his profession at Waseca some
five years, and in August, 1885, established himself at Hillsboro,
N. D., where he has since made his home.
During the years of his residence at Hillsboro, Mr. Carmody
has been closely identified with the growth and development of
the town and especially active in matters relative to his profes
sion. He has served the city as mayor and as city attorney, has
served as state's attorney of Traill county, is a member of the

988 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
State Bar Association, and has served it as vice-president, presi
dent, and has held like offices in the North Dakota Volunteer
Firemen's Association, of which he is a life member. He is a man
of judicial temperament, clear headed, and logical, and a thor
ough student of the law, and his appointment as associate justice
of the supreme court of North Dakota, by Governor Burke, on
January 15, 1909, was a well fitting and well merited recognition
of his eminent fitness for that high office.
Judge Carmody was married July 12, 1886, at Waseca, Minn.,
to Miss Anna Madden. Has three children, named Winifred M.,
Irene P., and George Christie.
Is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,
Independent Order of Foresters, Brotherhood of American Yeo
man, Knights of Columbus, Ancient Order of United Workmen
of the State of North Dakota, and is grand master of the Grand
Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workman of the State of
North Dakota.
Irving S. Catlin, of the firm of Catlin Brothers, dealers in
drugs, jeAvelry and notions, at Barnesville, Minn., is a native of
Elkhorn, Wis., and was born April 23, 1871, the youngest son of
Nelson and Elizabeth (Keyes) Catlin. The father, born in Litch
field, Herkimer county, New York, was of English lineage. He
was a school teacher in early life, and in the early days purchased
and settled on a partially improved farm in Walworth county,
Wisconsin. He was a man of influence in his community and
served as justice of the peace, town supervisor, township superin
tendent of schools, and other local offices. He met an accidental
death, September 23, 1876, and was survived by his widow and
two sons and two daughters. The mother was a native of Rome,
N. Y. She died at the family homestead in 1897.
Our subject, who was five years old at the time of his father's
death, grew up on the home farm, acquiring a good common and
high school education, and on attaining his majority, went to
Barnesville in the Red River valley, and began life on his own
account. He spent four years in the drug store of Dr. Robert
Paterson, preparatory to taking a course of study, and then at
tended the Northwestern School of Pharmacy, at St. Paul, passing

BIOGRAPHY 989
an examination before the state board and receiving his diploma
in 1896. Returning to Barnesville and established himself in the drug
business in a small Avay, associated with his brother, Frank A.
Catlin. In the fall of 1896 the business was moved into the build
ing which they purchased, and whieh is known as Catlin block.
A substantial two-story building, 25x80 feet, with physicians "and
attorneys' offices on the second floor.
Mr. Catlin is a man of wide popularity, a thorough man, and
alive to all that pertains to the welfare of his town. He served as
postmaster from 1897 to 1906, under appointment by Presidents
McKinley and Roosevelt, and was a member of the city council
when the water works were installed. He is a Republican and
active in the councils of his party. He is a member of Lodge 119
Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed all the chairs ; belongs
to the Masonic Order, is an active member of the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, and of the Modern Woodmen of
America, and also belongs to the Royal Arcanum.
He has dealt extensively in lands outside of his regular busi
ness, and owns a quarter section in Wilken county, and a quarter
section in Clay county, both valuable tracts in a rapidly develop
ing section.
In September, 1903, Mr. Catlin married Miss Martha, daughter
of Mr. J. C. Kneff, a prominent man of Fergus Falls. They have
one child, Harriet Aleta, born February 15, 1908.
Frank A. Catlin, associated with Irving S. in the business of
Catlin Brothers, was born August 1, 1857. He lived on the family
homestead in Wisconsin, until twenty-three years old, and in
1881 went to Fergus Palls, and began railroading, and worked
his way up, and in 1883 was put in charge of a passenger engine.
His run was first from Fergus Falls to Grand Forks, N. D. and
Crookston, but now from Barnesville to Devils Lake, a distance
of 210 miles. He has been locomotive engineer on his division
twenty-five years and is the third oldest engineer in point of
service. He moved to Barnesville in 1885, where he has served
eight years as alderman, and has also been treasurer of the school
board.

990 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
On August 1, 1889, Mr. Catlin married Miss Julia, daughter of
Mr. Ole Mattson, of Alexandria, Douglas county, Minnesota, and
they have two sons, viz. : Howard Frank, born June 19, 1889,
and Orvis Y. Iwian, born August 18, 1890.
Dr. James Edward Cavanagh was born in Morristown, St.
Lawrence county, New York, the son of Nicholas and Cathrin
Cavanagh. He obtained his early education in Brockville, Onta
rio, and afterward moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he became
interested in the study of Psychological Therapy, and later moved
to North Dakota and began the practice of the science of magne-
practie. After remaining in Dakota one year, he returned to
Chicago and completed the studies in practical psychology, oste
opathy and electrotherapy, receiving diplomas from the Chicago
School of Psychology, with the degree of D. P., or Doctor of
Psychology; the National School of Osteopathy with the degree
of D. 0., or Doctor of Osteopathy, and the Edison School of
Electrotherapy. In 1907 he was made an honorary member of
the National College of Electro-Therapeutics, from whieh college
he had previously graduated in Electro-Therapy and received a
diploma with the degree of M. E., or Master of Electrotherapy.
In 1902 Dr. Cavanagh became president of the Fargo Sani
tarium, an institution which had recently been incorporated
under the laws of the state of North Dakota, whieh office he still
holds, and enjoys an enviable reputation as a drugless physician
and surgeon. The Sanitarium of which he is director has become
widely and favorably known throughout the state as a health
resort, where both acute and chronic conditions are treated with
out the use of drug or knife.
Dr. Cavanagh is a member of Council No. 782, Knights of
Columbus, and in religious faith is a member of the Catholic
church, and a faithful attendant at St. Mary's Cathedral of
Fargo. The Doctor is a man of excellent social qualities, generous,
kind-hearted and genial, and always in sympathy with whatever
relates to the moral and material betterment of his community.
Thoroughly up-to-date in his line of treatment, conscientious and
faithful, he has won the confidence and respect of a large circle
of friends.

BIOGRAPHY 991
Anton Christianson, is the son of Christian Christianson and
is one of the highly respected citizens of Goose Prairie township,
Clay county, his home being in section 2, while his farm reaches
in both sections 1 and 2. Mr. Christianson was born in Tronhjem,
Norway, in 1884, and while a young man, he set sail for America,
and found himself located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Here he
worked for the railroad company for a time, but decided that
a better field for young men to make a livelihood, was in Minne
sota, and in 1868 he settled in Filmore county, and bought up
some cheap farm land and followed the occupation of farming for
some ten years, and here he was married to Miss Mary Anderson,
daughter of Anders Anderson, also natives of Norway. She
was born in Ringerike, Norway, in 1850, and came to Fil
more county, Minnesota, with her parents in 1868. Mrs.
Christianson 's father and mother both died here in Clay county.
In 1878, Mr. Christianson made his first trip overland to Clay
county in search for a homestead location. Goose Prairie looking
most favorable to him, he decided to make this his permanent
home, and after making several trips across the country, he
moved to that place in 1881, settled on his present farm, which
was then a timber claim, and erected his little frame shanty,
14x16, where, with Mrs. Christianson as his most faithful help
meet, he accumulated his comfortable home. In 1901 he erected a
fine barn 70x54, with a capacity for ninety tons of hay, and also a
fine large granary. His farm is well stocked with cattle and
hogs, and the greater part of the farm work is carried on by his
sons, under his wise and businesslike management. Mr. Christian-
son is now, at the age of sixty-five years, practically a retired
farmer and live at ease with his wife and family, as the result of
their hard labors.
Mr. and Mrs. Christianson are both members of the United
Lutheran Church.
Their farm comprises some 400 acres in the townships of
Goose Prairie and Ulen, with nearly all under good fence, good
water, etc., with about two acres of trees, a fine orchard, and
taken as a whole, the land is worth at least $40.00 per acre.
George B. Clifford was born at Concord, N. H., March 10,
1858. His parents were Benjamin B. Clifford and Ruth N.

992 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
(George) Clifford. He was educated in the public schools of
Concord, N. H. ; Newton and Chelsea, Mass., and at Wilbraham
Academy, Wilbraham, Mass.
After leaving school he taught school in Vermont for one
winter, and during the following summer he commenced studying
law Avith Governor Roswell Farnham, of Bradford, Vt. He fin
ished his law course at Montpelier, Vt., and was admitted to
the bar of Washington county, Vermont, in March, 1881.
In April, 1881, Mr. Clifford located at Grand Porks, Dakota
Territory, where he formed a law partnership with the late
James H. Bosard, under the firm name of Bosard & Clifford,
which continued for several years. Later Mr. Clifford gave up
the practice of law to devote his entire attention to the mortgage
and investment business. This business was conducted in Grand
Porks under the firm name of "Geo. B. Clifford & Co." In
January, 1909, the head office of the company was moved to
Minneapolis, but Grand Porks remains the headquarters for the
business of the company in that section.
From the time of his arrival in Grand Forks Mr. Clifford took
an active interest in all movements for the proper development
of the city. He aided in the erection of several of the finest
business blocks, and was himself a heavy investor in enterprises
of this class. For several years he was a member of the city
council, of which body he also served as president, and he aided
in the development of the plans for the first paving of the city's
streets. He was one of the organizers of the Commercial Club,
and he has been an active member of some of its most important
committees. Mr. Clifford's passion for beautiful surroundings found ex
pression in untiring effort for the development of a park system
for Grand Forks. The ToAvn and Country Club, which was organ
ized about 1900, owed its existence to his enthusiasm and initia
tive. That club obtained possession of and beautified a tract of
over one hundred acres of land adjoining the city, laid out golf
links and tennis courts and erected tasteful club buildings, and
the grounds were marveled at and admired by all who saw them.
It was the hope of Mr. Clifford that these grounds would ulti
mately become part of a city park system, and later he was able

BIOGRAPHY 993
to see, largely through his own efforts, the fulfillment of his wish.
Until a few years ago there was no method whereby North
Dakota cities could acquire park property except through the
action of their city councils, and these bodies were usually busy
with other matters. In 1905 Mr. Clifford and a small group of
other Grand Forks men caused to be framed and passed a law
which was the basis of the present park district law of North
Dakota. Under that law a Park Commission was organized in
Grand Forks, Avith Mr. Clifford as its first president, and in 1909
this commission completed the purchase for the city of nearly two
hundred acres of park property, including the Town and Country
Club grounds and several smaller tracts.
Mr. Clifford has been active in the work of several social
organizations, and he has been a member of the Masonic frater
nity for many years.
In 1888 he married Minnie E. Cooley, daughter of John E.
Cooley, of Grand Forks. There were born to them two children,
Ralph E. Clifford and George Barnard Clifford.
Adna Colburn, is one of the steady going, hard working men
who deserve honorable mention in connection with the history of
Clay county, Minnesota. A native of Massachusetts, he was born
March 7, 1834, and is one of eight children born to Adna and
Clarissa (Cutter) Colburn. His brother, Justice Colburn, was a
soldier in the Civil War, and now lives in Lake City, Minn. Four
sisters, one of whom, Jane, was the first teacher in Hawley, are
all married and have families. One brother and one sister died
in early life.
Our subject first attended the district schools in his native
place, but moving with an uncle to Peoria county, Illinois when
he was nine years old, he there attended select school and
acquired a good education. He lived in Illinois at the time Abra
ham Lincoln became president, and had the privilege of aiding in
his election.
Mr. Colburn settled in Clay county, in 1872, on a homestead
whieh he pre-empted, about a half mile west of the present site
of HaAvley. Aside from two or three English pioneers who came
in advance of the English colony that settled within a few miles
of his claim, there were few settlers in the county at that time.

994 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
From the hill near where he built his home there was a clear
view into Dakota, and in all directions except east where there
was a wooded district ; boundless prairies stretched for hundreds
of miles, and wild game Avas plentiful. Mr. Colburn endured all
the privations and trials incident to pioneer life in a new and
sparsely settled country and during the ravages of the grass
hoppers in 1877 and drouths of other seasons suffered with others,
the loss of his crops.
In 1895, in order to pay off outstanding obligations, he sold
his farm and bought eighty acres adjoining the village, and lived
there till 1902, when he sold the place to his daughter, Mrs. C. C.
Wouters, and moved to his present home in Hawley.
Mr. Colburn has always been active in church and Sunday
school work, and has been identified with the Union Church of
HaAA7ley since its organization in 1873, and since 1882 has served
as deacon and as clerk, and is also its janitor. He was a school
director in early days, and while on his farm served as supervisor
and also served as justice of the peace.
Mr. Colburn married in Illinois, Miss Harriet Wilson, who
cheerfully shared with her husband the trials of the early days.
She died in 1881, leaving seven children, six of whom are married
and have families.
In 1892, Mr. Colburn married Mrs. Martha Turner, who w7as
an early settler and a member of the English colony, and who is
active and efficient in church and missionary work.
Charles E. Colby, ex-editor of the "Barnesville Record," was
born in Wabasha county, Minnesota, at Plainview, and is the son
of George H. Colby, a retired veteran of the Civil War, and a
native of New York state.
Charles was reared and educated in the local and high schools
of Glencoe, Minn., and later took a course in the Archibald Busi
ness College, in Minneapolis. He has been interested in the
printing business from childhood, and was always on the alert
to obtain all the information possible along those lines. In 1884
he came to Groton,' S. D., and worked for four years as post
office and railway mailing clerk, and in 1888 he purchased the
"Glencoe Enterprise," of which he was editor and manager for
about two years, then sold out and opened a job printing office in

BIOGRAPHY 995
Duluth, where he remained until 1893. In the meantime he mar
ried Miss Annie Termath, who is a native of Minnesota of German
extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Colby have two children, viz. : Dana
and Everett.
In 1893, Mr. Colby moved to Grand Rapids, Minn., where he
was manager of the "Magnet" for about three years, and in
January, 1897, he moved to Barnesville, Minn., and established
the "Barnesville Record," the first issue of which was printed on
January 28, of that year. Pie disposed of his interests in this,
however, in the year 1903, and embarked in the real estate busi
ness which he has since continued on a large scale, and is
considered one of the most substantial business men of the county,
and his realty interests extend over the entire county.
Mr. Colby is liberal in his political views, public spirited and a
man of excellent judgment in public matters, always ready with
his support in any movement for the betterment of the people
of his community.
Solomon G. Comstock, one of the most prominent citizens of
the Red River valley, was born in Penobscot county, Maine, May
9, 1842, and was raised on the farm where he remained until he
reached his majority. He obtained an academic education and
well prepared for the struggle of life in which he has played an
active part. Mr. Comstock read law and was admitted to the bar
of Douglas county, Nebraska, in 1869, and for two years follow
ing, practiced at the bar of Omaha. In the fall of 1871 he came
to the Red River valley and located in Moorhead, when the town
was new and devoted himself to his profession for a number of
years. In 1884, in addition to his law practice he became inter
ested in the real estate business, in which he was successful from
his first operations and is now one of the largest dealers in this
line in the valley, devoting his entire time in that direction.
Mr. Comstock has always been a staunch supporter of the
principles of the Republican party, and has held various local
offices of trust and responsibility. For a number of years he
served as county attorney, and in 1875 served his first term in the
state legislature, which was the beginning of his long and honor
able career, as a legislator, and in this capacity Mr. Comstock
became best known. He was a member of the Fifty-first Congress,

996 PIISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY"
voted for the admission of five new states, and is well known
throughout the state of Minnesota.
In 1874, Mr. Comstock Avas married to Miss Sarah Ball, and
they have a family of three children, viz. : Ada L., Jessie M., and
George M.
Mr. Comstock is indeed a most worthy citizen, ever ready and
Avilling to give from his store of Avealth and knowledge to those
less fortunate than himself, and his splendid qualities both socially
and in business, have made for him a host of friends and the basis
of his success.
E. C. Cooper, commissioner of insurance, has been a resident
of Grand Forks, N. D., since 1883. He was born in Antioch, 111.,
April 11, 1856, and moved to Iowa with his parents when six years
of age, where he lived until his removal to Grand Forks, where
he first took a position Avith a large lumbering concern, and
remained Avith the same firm until he embarked in the insurance
business on his own account, and has since been identified with
only the oldest and most conservative insurance companies in
existence, and the character of his work has especially fitted him
for the position he now holds under the state administration, and
has enabled him during his term of office to render invaluable
aid to the state in particular and the policyholders in general.
Mr. Cooper is an active and energetic man, and has always
taken a lively interest in state and municipal affairs and has
always held the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. He
has been honored by the people of Grand Forks from time to
time, and for six years was a member of the council of that city,
one term of which was as president of the council. In 1896-7 he
was chairman of the Republican state central committee, and at
the legislative session of 1896-7 was voted for as United States
senator. In 1904 Mr. Cooper was chosen by the Republican A7oters for
commissioner of insurance, and again elected to that position on
the Republican ticket of 1906 and 1908.
In 1901 Mr. Cooper was married to Miss Flora K. McGillivray,
at Oak, Park, 111. They have no family.
Taylor Crum. — It is said of Mr. Crum by the Fargo ' ' Forum ' '
that, after practicing at the bar for over twenty years, he has

BIOGRAPHY 997
never neglected the interests of a client, and that during all that
time he has won for the majority of these clients the contentions
for which they sought.
Mr. Crum is a native of Candor, N. Y., and was born in 1850.
He is of German, Scotch and Irish descent and is the son of Mc-
Donough Crum, who was a prominent farmer. He was educated
at the State Normal School, at Oswego, N. Y., where he gradu
ated with honors, and at the University of Rochester, N. Y.
Like many young men of the eastern states Mr. Crum was
attracted by the many opportunities offered in the great North
west, and in 1881 located in Fargo. For two years he was prin
cipal of the Fargo schools, giving satisfaction to the people gen
erally. In 1884 he began the practice of law in Fargo, and has a
large and lucrative clientele. He was in the Civil War and enjoys
the experience of having served a few days, being a soldier with
out having been enlisted.
Mr. Crum was married in 1876 to Helen Bixby, who died in
1886. They were granted four children, three of whom survive,
as follows : Solon Crum, a dentist, practicing his profession in
Fargo ; Paul Crum, a lawyer, also practicing his profession in
North Dakota, and Leon Crum, an engraver in California.
Mr. Crum is a Republican and is voted as one of the leading
orators of the Northwest. He has been prominent in politics,
having served as secretary of the campaign committee and having
frequently been sent as a delegate to state conventions. Mr.
Crum owns a beautiful residence in Fargo and is in possession of
a clientelage that is state wide.
E. D. Cummings is a prosperous young farmer of Fargo, N. D.
He was born in Gardner, N. D., on November 10, 1891, the son of
J. B. and Rose (Aldrich) Cummings. His father, now deceased,
was a farmer, of Scotch descent. He was a native of Iowa and
left that state in 1885, came to North Dakota and settled in Cass
county, Avhere he continued to farm until his death, on June 15,
1908, when he passed away at the home of his son, E. D., our sub
ject, who now manages the farm and beautiful country home,
consisting of 480 acres of land, nearly all under cultivation. In
addition to his general farming, Mr. Cummings conducts a large
dairy business and stock raising.

998 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Mr. Cummings is a thrifty, bright and intelligent young
farmer, and is considered a valuable citizen in the county. He
was educated in the public schools, and was well trained in the
science of successful farming. He is the sixth child of a family
of eight, viz. : Benjamin, Josephine, Bert, Jennie, Ann, Ella and
Iva. Alphonse Cyr, M. D., one of the popular physicians of Barnes
ville, Minn., came from Montreal, where he was born on July 5,
1872, the son of Joan B. and Rosalie (Demers) Cyr. He was edu
cated in the public schools there, and in the St. Lawrence College,
in Quebec, from which he graduated with the class of 1892. He
then entered the Laval University and graduated from the med
ical department of that institution four years later with the degree
of M. D. ; went to Barnesville, Minn., in 1906, where he immedi
ately opened an office for the practice of his profession, and has
since enjoyed a constantly increasing business in medicine and
surgery, his practice extending through both Clay and Becker
counties. In 1899 Dr. Cyr was married in Brooklyn, N. Y., to Miss Eva
Pahey, daughter of J. H. and Mathilda Fahey. Dr. and Mrs.
Cyr have a family of five children, viz. : Emde, Violet, Jeanette,
Graziella and Rene.
The doctor is chairman of the board of health of Barnesville
and a member of the American Medical Association and the State
Medical Society, and is fraternally identified with the Catholic
Forresters, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Modern
Brotherhood of America, while his religion is the Catholic faith.
Dr. Cyr is a man of excellent habits, broad and liberal in his
political views, and ever ready to support whatever movement
comes up for the advantage of his town and county.
Daniel C. Darrow, M. D., president of the Moorhead Hospital,
is one of the leading surgeons of the Red River valley. He was
born in Neenah, Wis., on January 4, 1850, and came from New
England ancestry. His parents were Daniel C. and Isabella (Mur
ray) Darrow, both born and reared in New York state, and moved
to Wisconsin in the year 1846, when the country was new and
the principal industry was farming and trading with the Indians.
They settled on a farm in Winnebago county, where they endured

BIOGRAPHY 999
for years the usual privations of pioneer life and spent the
remainder of their days.
Dr. Darrow obtained his primary learning in the public schools
of Neenah, Wis., and entered the Rush Medical College of Chi
cago, 111., from which he graduated with the class of 1884, with
the degree of M. D., and thoroughly familiar with all the details
of the medical profession. Enthused with the reports of the west
ern country, he decided to make his first venture at practice in
Minnesota, and soon after his graduation he moved to Moorhead,
where he at once commenced the successful practice he has since
continued. In 1893 he established the Darrow Hospital in Moor
head, which was thoroughly modern and up-to-date, and this was
the first hospital in the valley equipped with a private operating
room. This hospital was merged into the present Moorhead
Hospital, with Dr. Darrow at its head, where he has since re
mained, and the institution has the reputation of being one of the
best in the state.
Dr. Darrow is in touch with the medical life and thought of
the day, belongs to the Clay-Becker Medical Society, of whieh he
was president for some years, and is a member of both the Min
nesota State and the American Medical Associations. He was
also for a number of years city and county physician of Moor
head and Clay county, and was county coroner for twelve years,
and his skill and experience, together with his broad, progressive
thought, have made his opinions universally respected.
On January 4, 1872, Dr. Darrow and Miss Alia M. Stone,
daughter of Richard and Sarah Elizabeth Stone, of Winnebago
county, Wisconsin, were united in marriage. Dr. and Mrs. Dar-
roAV have two children, viz. : Bertha, now Mrs. Charles Loring,
of Moorhead, and Edith B., now Mrs. Joseph Godfrey, of Crooks
ton, Minn.
The doctor is a charter member of the Commercial Club of
Moorhead, member of the I. 0. 0. F. since 1886, and also is a lead
ing neighbor in the M. W. A.
Onesine Joassin de Landrecie, one of the leading merchants of
Fargo, N. D., was born December 11, 1845, at Cedars, province
of Quebec, son of Benjamin Joassin and Esther (Sequin de Lan
drecie. The family is an old one and emigrated from their ances-

1000 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
tral home at Landrecie in the north of France. He was located
in Chicago until the great fire in 1871, when he went to Jason
City, Miss., and engaged in general merchandising till 1879, when
he sold his interests, and came to Fargo, erected a store building,
which he opened for business in October of the same year. This
store has grown from a frontage of twenty-five feet to a large
department store with a frontage of one hundred feet, and is the
largest institution of its kind in the state. Hte is vice president
and one of the incorporators of the Fargo National Bank, and
owner of the famous Chimney Butte or the Maltese Cross Ranch,
which was occupied by President Roosevelt while he was a resi
dent of North Dakota. He is also owner of 11,000 acres of coal
land at Sentinel, Butte, Billings county. Mr. de Landrecie is a
thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Commercial and
various society clubs.
On September 7, 1879, he was married to Helen Josephine
Basefe, at Racine, Wis.
W. H. Davy, capitalist and mayor of the city of Moorhead,
Minn., the subject of this sketch, was born and educated at Bath, On
tario, Canada. In 1864 he engaged in the grocery business in Chicago
and at the close of the war he returned to Canada, where he remained
until 1869, when he came to Duluth, Minn., and from there made his
first visit to the Red River Valley in 1871, and being so well impressed
with the future of the Red River country, he returned in 1873 and
took up his permanent residence in Moorhead. He was employed as
bookkeeper in the large mercantile house of Brun & Finkle for several
years, when he opened up the grocery house of Linwood & Davy. In
1889 he retired from this firm and engaged in grain and real estate
business, which he continued until 1898. When his real estate and
outside and larger interest required all his attention he closed out
his grain business. Mr. Davy has always taken a prominent and
active interest in his town and county, having served as chairman of
the Board of County Commissioners for several years, vice-president
First National Bank of Moorhead for many years, chairman of Water
and Light Commission four years, and member of the Charter Com
mission; Avas one of three who composed the Fergus Falls Telephone
and the Great Western Telephone Companies, built thirteen exchanges
besides about 500 miles long distance lines. He has large lumbering

BIOGRAPHY 1001
interests in British Columbia and a large land owner in the Red
River Valley, having at this time over 1,000 acres under cultivation.
He has also large property interests in Duluth and other parts of the
state. Mr. Davy is an Episcopalian and gives much of his time and
money for the support of his church. He is one of our best citizens,
and stands for the good in all things.
Joseph Bell DeRemer, of Grand Forks, was born September
14, 1871, in Montana, Warren county, New Jersey. His father
was James K. Polk DeRemer and his mother Nancy (Bell) De
Remer. He received his education in the common school at New
Village, Warren county, New Jersey. Later he was a special stu
dent in architecture at Columbia University, New York city. He
followed the occupation of a carpenter from March, 1886, to May
1, 1896, and made himself a master of the trade, also devoting
himself to the study of the building art. He then entered Colum
bia University, taking a special course in architecture, which he
completed in June, 1897. He began the practice of architecture
at Washington, Warren county, New Jersey, continuing there
until he removed to North Dakota in March, 1902, when he located
in Grand Forks and has since been a resident of this city.
Although a resident of the Red River valley but comparatively
a few years, it may be said that no one man has had a wider influ
ence in the lives of its people or has built a more enduring monu
ment to his career among them than has Mr. DeRemer. While
devoting himself assiduously to the practice of his profession the
work he has accomplished has not been wrought entirely on paper,
nor even in the splendid and enduring structures he has created.
His building has been to a very material extent on the minds of
the people among whom he has labored and who have had an
opportunity to see his creations. During the early history of the
Red River valley life was chiefly one continued "hustle," a con
tinual strife to extract from the depths of the far-famed soil the
wealth of which the fame had already gone around the world.
Men had little time or thought for the niceties of life. The busi
ness block was an unpretentious box of larger or smaller dimen
sions, to be enlarged as the rapidly multiplying business created
a demand, and the business man's home was but little more than
a box with more or less partitions. Gradually there came about

1002 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
improved conditions in this respect however. Rapidly acquired
wealth or capital seeking investment furnished a way for the con
struction of more substantial and enduring buildings. We were
so far removed, however, from examples of the beautiful in archi
tecture that there was little stimulus for attempt at beautifying
either commercial or other structures, beyond the addition of a
moulding here and there or an ornamented frieze or cornice. It
was not long after the arrival of Mr. DeRemer, however, before
he had created some object lessons in this direction which have
been teaching the people day by day, and the lesson has been
almost contagious. No visitor in Grand Forks, from the inland
cities and towns of the state views the stately Y. M. C. A. build
ing, for instance, but goes home Avith a desire to see improved
architectural conditions in his home town. Other structures de
signed by Mr. DeRemer, such as the Ontario store building, the
Widlund building, the first fireproof office building in the state;
the McCoy residence or the president's house at the university,
the neAV Mann building at Devil's lake, the public library at
Grafton, and many fine schools and other buildings over the state,
are exerting an influence day by day and year by year in the cul
tivation of a love for the beautiful Avhich is bearing fruit and Avill
continue to do so for years to come.
Mr. DeRemer, although a public-spirited citizen, has never
been inclined to political activity, and the only public office he
ever held Avas that of alderman in Washington, N. J. He is a
member of the Society of Columbia University Architects, Com
mercial Club of Grand Forks, the Town and Country Club and
the Y. M. C. A., of whieh he is a director; the Junior Order of
United American Mechanics, Washington, N. J. ; Knights of
Malta, Grand Forks Lodge No. 255, B. P. 0. E. A. and A., Scottish
Rite, and Mecca Temple, NeAV York city, A. 0. N. M. S.
Mr. DeRemer was married NoA7ember 11, 1891, at Stewarts-
ville, Warren county, New Jersey, to Elizabeth Meyers, of SteAV-
artsville. They have two children, Miss Delores DeRemer and
Master Samuel Teel DeRemer.
William H. Diemert, wholesale liquor dealer, of Moorhead,
Minn., ranks among the leading business men of the city. Pie is
a native of Canada, and was born there on June 15, 1873, the son

JOSEPH B. DE REEMER

BIOGRAPHY 1003
of Andrew and Rosalia Diemert, Avho emigrated from Germany
to America many years ago, and settled first in Canada, where
they lived for several years, and in 1878 they moved to George
town, Clay county, Minnesota, where Mr. Diemert was for a time
engaged with the Hudson Bay Company, and subsequently took
up a tract of government land and commenced the life of a farmer
near the little town of Perley. This was of short duration, how
ever, as Mr. Diemert passed aAvay the following year. Mrs. Die
mert remarried to Mr. Adam Reis, and lived until June 10, 1908,
when she too passed away at the age of sixty-four.
William H. took advantage of a good common school educa
tion and fitted himself as early as possible for a business life. Plis
first employment was clerking in a store, which position he kept
for several years and obtained some valuable experience in the
meantime, which warranted him in opening a business of his own.
He came to Moorhead and in February, 1898, he commenced oper
ations on his own account in the wholesale liquor business, and
in 1904 he associated himself Avith Mr. Murphy in the wholesale
liquor business, and the firm continued as Diemert & Murphy
until 1906, when Mr. Diemert purchased the interest of Mr.
Murphy and has since conducted the business on a much larger
scale than ever before.
Mr. Diemert was married on May 3, 1897, to Miss Ella Lock-
rem, of Twin Valley, Minn., and they have a family of three chil
dren, viz. : Milton L., Verna J. and John A.
Among the fraternal societies of which Mr. Diemert is a mem
ber are the Order of Elks, Order of Eagles, Order of Maccabees,
the Red Men and the U. C. T. He also belongs to the Commercial
Clubs of Fargo and Moorhead, and is president of the Gate City
Gun Club.
Dinnie Brothers. — The Dinnie Brothers are probably the larg
est contractors in the state of North Dakota. More cities and
towns in the valley of the Red river are creations of that firm to
a larger extent in the brick and stone building line than can be
attributed to any other firm in this part of the Northwest. To
particularize would be to require mention of almost hundreds of
buildings, and in point of time cover a period extending over a
quarter of a century.

1004 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
John and James Dinnie came to Grand Forks, March 20, 1881.
They began as common briek-layers and, in a small way, began
a career which subsequently led to its present large proportions,
and until now, by their skilled work and successful management
against all competition, the Red River valley throughout its entire
length has been dotted by buildings of their own construction.
Their work has also extended west of the Minnesota line as far
as Rugby, and for many years they have been giving employment
to one and two hundred men constantly, requiring an expendi
ture annually of one or two hundred thousand dollars. Such
buildings as the Young Men's Christian Association, the Carnegie
library, the Clifford building, the Norman Glass block, the Hotel
Dacotah, the New Hampshire block and the Corliss block are a
few of the many structures that have been erected by this firm in
Grank Forks. Fargo was largely rebuilt by them since the fire
in 1894. Creditable mention also for much work done in Hills
boro, Grafton, MayviUe, Northwood, Larimore, Langdon, Michi
gan City, Devils Lake and other places should be given to them.
At the present time the firm have some very extensive under
takings on hand: the St. Michael's Hospital for the Sisters of St.
Joseph, a branch of the Sisters in St. Paul; St. Bernard's Acad
emy; a large three-story building on Third street; the large roller
skating rink for W. R. Jack; the school of mines for the State
University, and a large building for Mr. Deidlick at East Grand
Forks. The brothers own a brick yard on a three quarter section of
land near the State University and manufacture three and four
million of brick annually. They obtain their building stone from
St. Paul and Minneapolis.
The firm consists of John Dinnie, for eight years mayor of
Grand Porks ; of James Dinnie, a member of the school board, and
of A. S. Dinnie, son of John, who is at the head of the sidewalk
department. Peter M. Duklet is among the pioneers of Clay county who has
played no little part in making Goose Prairie township the pro
gressive and up-to-date section of the country that it is. He was
born in Norway in 1851, and in 1860 he came to America and set
tled in Houston county, Minnesota, where the first ten years of

BIOGRAPHY 1005
American life was spent in a dug-out, and in this same sod house
four of his children were born. He then decided to try northern
Mmnesota, and with a number of other farmers, took up a claim
in Clay county of a quarter section. He broke his land with oxen,
and with his successful yield of crops he was soon able to erect
a new house and make a comfortable home for himself and family,
and Mrs. Duklet was ever ready to assist in all branches of toil
necessary on the farm. She was a general assistant indoors and
out until her sons became old enough to share the hard work in
her stead. . They gradually accumulated from their faithful efforts
until at this time Mr. Duklet owns half a section of finely im
proved farm land, worth at least thirty-five dollars per acre.
Mr. and Mrs. Duklet are members of the Synod Lutheran
church, and their children are Ole, Casper, John, Crimel, Elmer
and Peder.
Mr. Duklet has erected a fine large barn and granary, with
good sheds and other outbuildings, and his home is among the
best in this section of the county. He is a public-spirited man, a
good neighbor and valuable citizen.
Stevenson Dunlop, a resident of Fargo, N. D., was born July
25, 1858, at Symington Agashire, Scotland. His parents were
John and Mary Veronica (Stevenson) Dunlop. Parents immi
grated to Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, in 1859, and in 1874 his
father came to Dakota and purchased a farm at Mapleton, but
never made his home there. Our subject received his elementary
education at the Woodstock grammar school and finished at the
Agricultural College of Guelph, Canada. He came to Mapleton,
N. D., in 1876. His father located seventeen sections of railroad
land in the same year of which he took charge in 1878. In the
fall of 1875, his father, John Dunlop, planted 100 acres of winter
wheat, probably the first crop sown in the state, but unfortunately
it was all winter killed.
Mr. Dunlop remained on his farm until 1900, when he took up
his residence in Fargo, where he has since resided, renting his
farms. He served as chairman of the first township board of
Raymond township, and also served as assessor several terms, and
is now member of county board of health, school board of Fargo,
and is a director of the Merchants' National Bank of Fargo. He

1006 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Noble of the
Mystic Shrine, member of the Presbyterian church and Young
Men's Christian Association.
Mr. Dunlop AA-as married June 16, 1887, at Toronto, Canada,
to Miss Bertha Macdonald Playfair, daughter of John S. Play-
fair of Toronto. Of the three children born to them, Robert and
Lois Isabel are living and Jean is deceased.
Arne Evans, deceased, of Ulen toAvnship, father of Mr. Ole
Evans, also deceased, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this
Avork, was born in Norway, in 1847, and came to this country
with his parents in 1861, Avhen he was fifteen years of age. They
first settled in Winneshiek county, IoAva, where they lived for a
time, and then moved to Houston county, Minnesota, and fol-
loAved the occupation of farming. Here their son Arne obtained
some additional education, and in 1868 married Miss Julia Ulen,
daughter of Ole Ulen, the well known founder of the village which
was named after him. The following spring Mr. and Mrs. Arne
Evans moved to Cuba township, in Becker county, Minnesota,
Avhere they lived on a farm for about ten years, and then moved to
Clay county in 1881 and settled on a farm in Section 28, their first
residence here being the claim cabin of Mr. Ole Ulen. In 1895 Mr.
Evans erected a fine brick residence which has since been his
home. For a number of years Mr. EA7ans OAvned and conducted a
hardware business in Ulen, in partnership with his brother-in-law,
Mr. Plalvor Burtness. He later purchased the interest of Mr.
Burtness, after which he carried on the business alone until his
death. Since the death of Mr. Evans and their son Ole, Mrs. Evans
has continued to reside in the beautiful family home, surrounded
by the refinements and comforts which years of Avork in the pio
neer days are the Avell earned reAvard.
Ole Evans, a Avell knoAvn resident of Ulen toAvnship, now de
ceased, was the son of Arne (also deceased) and Julia (Ulen)
Evans, who settled in Ulen toAA-nship Avith their family in the year
1881. Ole Avas born in the toAvn of Cuba, in Becker county, Min
nesota, on November 12, 1871, and died in October, 1903. He

BIOGRAPHY 1007
married Miss Gusta Hanson on August 9, 1898, and they had one
son, Raymond.
Mr. Evans was educated first in the country schools, and later
attended school in Grand Porks, N. D., the college at Moorhead,
and lastly the seminary at Red Wing, Minn. He was ten years
of age when he came to Ulen with his parents, where he grew to
manhood in the highest esteem of his friends. His first business
venture was in 1894, when he opened a hardware store in Ulen,
and the following yrear took as a partner Mr. 0. P. Olson, and the
business was conducted under the firm name of Olson & Evans
for about four years, when Mr. Evans purchased Olson's interest
and carried on the store from that time on, and at his death he
had the largest hardAvare business in Ulen. He owned the first
bicycle in the village and also the first automobile.
Mr. Evans Avas a member of the United Lutheran church, and
was one of the most popular men of the county, both in business
and socially. His friends were numerous to mourn their loss of
him. The Ulen band played at his funeral services, and all busi
ness operations ceased on that day. Mrs. Evans is still living
and is held in high esteem by her many friends in Ulen.
Mr. Evans was the second of a family of five children, two
sons and three daughters, Ariz. : Mrs. L. P. Herreed, Edwin, Mrs.
J. E. Heimark and Rose are his sisters and brother. They Avere
all well educated and all have families except Rose, who was
recently married.
Johannes 0. Feragen, cashier of the Security State Bank of
Hitterdal, Minn., is one of the most prominent business men of
this place. Mrs. Feragen was Miss Ellen Hitterdal before her
marriage, the daughter of Mr. Ole Hitterdal, whose sketch may
be found elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Feragen Avas born on the Feragen farm in Reros, Norway,
in 1863 ; he was educated in the public schools. His mother died
some years ago, while his father is still living in his old home in
Norway. They had a family of three children, Johannes 0. being
the only one who ventured to this country. He landed in 1882,
in Hawley, and located in Hitterdal, Clay county, Minnesota, and
was then about nineteen years of age. Por five years previous to
this he had' been engaged in the lumber and mining business in

1008 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY"
Norway. He secured employment on a farm, where he worked
by the month, in Clay county, until 1884, when he purchased a
farm on his own account in Goose Prairie township, where he
farmed with general success until 1898, when he entered into poli
tics and served in various local offices, such as town clerk, asses
sor, justice of the peace, etc., for about ten years, and was a can
didate for the office of county auditor of Clay county on the
Populist ticket. In 1898 he began buying grain at Hitterdal for
the Great Western Elevator Company and helped to organize the
Hitterdal State Bank in 1904, and is now knoAvn as the Security
State Bank, with a capital and surplus in 1909 of $12,000, and
with M. J. Solum, president; Nels Heig, vice president, and J. O.
Feragen, cashier. This institution has been a great benefit to the
farmers of the surrounding country, and is recognized as a safe
and substantial enterprise.
Mr. Feragen still owns and controls his Avell improved farm
near the village of Hitterdal, located in Sections 34 and 35, in
Goose Prairie township. Mr. and Mrs. Feragen are cousins of Mr.
and Mrs. Lars Hitterdal, Avhose sketch may also be found in the
article containing the Hitterdal family, in another part of this
work. Mr. and Mrs. Feragen are the parents of two daughters,
viz. : Olga is now the wife of Mr. Oscar Melbye, of Ulen, manager
of the telephone company and the son of O. C. Melbye; Miss
Mabel Feragen is now nine years of age and attends the public
school. Mr. Feragen is treasurer of the United Lutheran church of
Hitterdal and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Hon. Charles Joseph Fisk, associate justice of the supreme
court of North Dakota, was born in Whiteside county, Illinois,
March 11, 1862. His father, Clark Fisk, was a native of Pennsyl
vania. He became a resident of Illinois in early life, taking up
government land in Whiteside county, and Avas engaged in farm
ing nearly all his life. In 1857 he was married to Miss Adelia E.
Reynolds, Avho was a native of Vermont. A family of four sons
and four daughters were born to them, five of AA7hom, two boys
and three girls, are now living. The boyhood days of Judge Fisk
were spent upon the Illinois farm and his early education was
obtained in the public schools of Whiteside county. Later he

BIOGRAPHY 1009
attended the Northern Illinois College at Fulton, 111. After leav
ing college he taught school for five years, devoting his spare time
to the study of his chosen profession, the law. He then read law
for tAvo years with Woodruff & Andrews at Morrison, 111. He
came to North Dakota in 1886, locating at Larimore, where he"
was admitted to the bar and entered at once into the activities of
the practice of law. He was associated with the late W- H. Fel
lows, a prominent lawyer of Larimore, until 1889, when he re
moved to Grand Forks. After locating here he was associated at
different times with the lamented Judge J. M. Cochrane, Tracy R.
Bangs and George A. Bangs. During his professional career he
was actively engaged in many important cases and acquired a
reputation as one of the foremost members of the North Dakota
bar. While a resident of Larimore he served the public as city
attorney in 1887-88. He was city attorney of Grand Forks in
1895-96, and while serving in this capacity he was elected, in No
vember, 1896, to the office of district judge of the first judicial
district of North Dakota. He was re-elected to succeed himself
in 1900 without opposition, and again in 1904 was re-elected over
his Republican opponent, the late J. H. Bosard, by a decisive ma
jority. From the district judgeship he was called to the supreme
court of the state in 1906, being elected to fill the vacancy occa
sioned by the resignation of Justice N. C. Young. His elevation
to this high office was a tribute of the people to his integrity and
distinguished ability as a jurist as demonstrated during his long
career on the district bench. He was nominated by the Demo
cratic party, and in the face of a normally large Republican ma
jority was elected over John Knauff, his Republican opponent, by
a majority of over 8,000 votes. The manner in which he has filled
the office to which he was chosen by so complimentary a vote has
more than fulfilled the expectations of his many friends and ad
mirers. With a discerning and well balanced judgment, thor
oughly equipped by careful and exhaustive legal research, a genial
disposition, a sympathetic nature and a broad-gauged view, he is
by temperament and otherwise eminently fitted for the responsible
position he now holds.
In the fall of 1886 he was united in marriage to Miss Ida M.
Myers, of Sterling, 111., and of the issue of such marriage now

1010 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
living are two charming daughters, Miss Helen Marion and Doris
May, both of whom are just budding into womanhood and who
are a source of much joy and pride to their parents.
Eugene Fretz, Jr., Grand Forks, N. D., state agent of the
Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee,
Wis., is a native of France, having been born at Strasbourg
(Alsace-Lorraine), August 15, 1874. His parents were Eugene
and Elizabeth Fretz. Father is a retired merchant and resides
in Milwaukee, Wis.
Mr. Fretz, Jr., attended private colleges in France and Ger
many and graduated from the University of France and the Acad
emy of Besanseon with the degree of B. A., in 1892. In January
of 1893 he came to the United States, and a year later was fol
lowed by his father and mother, one sister and three brothers.
Shortly after his arrival he took up the work of life insurance,
beginning at Sioux Falls, S. D., with J. Mallamey, continued there
until March, 1894, when he removed to Grand Forks, N. D., and
became associate state agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life
Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wis., in company with J. D.
Mills, and in 1896 assumed full control as state agent of the above
named company for North Dakota, which position he stiU holds.
Under his wise and careful management the business has increased
in range and confidence of the public, and now is one of the larg
est and strongest state agencies in the Northwest. Mr. Fretz is
a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On May 1, 1895, he was married to Miss Theresa Grosskettler,
of Philadelphia, Pa. They have one child, Marguerite.
John A. Gaunt, of Grand Forks, N. D., manager of the branch
house of the Cascaden Manufacturing Company, Waterloo, Iowa,
was born at Clemons Grove, Marshall county, Iowa, December 3,
1863, son of John W. and Mary S. Gaunt. Father's family came
from AVales in 1720 and mother's family came from Scotland in
1753 ; first settled in Kentucky, afterwards moved to Indiana, and
in 1853 went to Iowa.
Our subject's father died when he was nine years of age, so
that his time at school was limited to a few terms in winter, com
mencing in a neighbor's woodshed as his first school building.
Afterwards a schoolhouse was erected some distance from his

BIOGRAPHY 1011
home, at which he spent four terms. He commenced his business
career as collector for the McCormick Harvester Company in
1883, remaining with this firm till 1892 ; was then with Aultman
Miller Company, 1892 to 1893 ; Reeves & Co., 1893 to 1896 ; Gear,
Scott & Co., 1896 to 1901; Advance Thresher Company, 1901 to
1905. - Since which time he has been manager of the Cascaden
Manufacturing Company at Grand Forks. In addition to the
above responsible positions held by Mr. Gaunt, he has been a suc
cessful auctioneer for the past twenty years. He is a member of
the Masonic Lodge.
Mr. Gaunt was married December 2, 1888, to Miss Leota
Springer at St. Anthony, IoAva; they have two children, Ray S.
and Wanda Ilene.
H. 0. Gilbertson is a prosperous and substantial farmer of
Ulen township, Clay county, Minnesota. He is a native of Hal-
injdahl, Norway, and was born in 1854, and is a son of Gilbert
Olsen, who came from Norway in 1877, and settled on a tract of
land in Hajen township, Clay county, where he still lives at the
age of eighty-eight years.
Our subject came to this country two years before his father,
going first to Houston county, Minnesota, and moving thence to
his present location on Section 22, Ulen township, in Clay county,
being the first settler in that part of the township. The second
was EUenj EUenjson.
Mr. Gilbertson began in a small way breaking up and culti
vating his farm, using an ox team both to work his land and haul
his products to market, Hawley being his early trading point,
living in a small log cabin, and experiencing all the privations
and hardships incident to subduing a tract of wild land and mak
ing a home in a new country.
Mr. Gilbertson, by his industry and thrift, has increased his
holdings with the development of the country, and now owns in
Ulen township 200 acres of fine productive land, well improved,
besides eighty acres in Hajen township, and is counted one of
the wideawake prosperous farmers of Clay county. With his fam
ily, Mr. Gilbertson affiliates with the Lutheran church.
He married Miss Astra Herbransen, who is deceased. Of seven
children born to them, Julia, the eldest, is married to Mr. Guhl

1012 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Hanson and lives at Spring Grove, N. D. ; Gilbert, the oldest son,
is a farmer and lives on the home farm ; Carl married Miss Erma
Olson ; Olava is married to Elias Nordness ; Annie is married, and
Helmer and Alma live on the family homestead.
W. C. GUbreath, who has played no small part in the develop
ment of his community, was born in McMinn county, Tennessee,
September 9, 1851. Two years later his parents moved to Oregon,
where his father died. His mother remarried, and in 1864 they
moved to Sangamon county, Illinois, where the subject of this
sketch attended the public school, and in 1869 entered the Illinois
Wesleyan University, from which he graduated with the class of
1874. He then engaged in the mercantile and banking business
in Illinois for about five years, and during that time he was a
member of the Illinois National Guards and served as captain and
subsequently as major of the Fifth regiment. In the fall of 1878
he moved to Iowa and was interested in mercantile pursuits, also
engaged in the grain and stock business and subsequently pur
chased a neAvspaper and followed that vocation for the greater
part of the last thirty years. He returned to Illinois in 1893 and
there conducted a newspaper for a short time. In 1874 he was
married to Miss Lillie D. Lyon, of Pontiac, 111. They have a fam
ily of three children.
Mr. Gilbreath, on coming to North Dakota, first located at
Mandan and became part owner and joint editor of the "Mandan
Pioneer. ' ' He was a member of the Republican state central com
mittee for four years, two of which he served as a member of the
executive committee. In January, 1901, he was appointed deputy
commissioner of insurance and held that position for four years.
In 1904 he was nominated and elected commissioner of agriculture
and labor, and re-elected to the same position in 1906 and 1908.
Mr. Gilbreath 's realty holdings in North Dakota are quite ex
tensive, having had confidence in the future development of the
country from his first visit, and subsequent events have proven
the wisdom of his conclusions.
Herbert Glaisyer, one of Hawley 's influential citizens, comes
of English lineage and traces his maternal ancestry back to Queen
Mary's time in the fifteenth century. His paternal ancestors for
several generations were druggists, his great grandfather named

BIOGRAPHY 1013
John and his grandfather also named John and his father Thomas
Glaisyer, who married Phoebe Lucas, were all druggists and men
of high standing. Herbert, of Brighton, England. There our sub
ject was born in 1847 and was given every educational privilege,
attending the best schools of Hartford and finishing his studies at
Weston. After leaving school he followed the sea thirteen years,
rising from midshipman to the rank of first officer.
He was on one of the first steamships that passed through the
Suez canal, and in his travels visited all quarters of the globe, and
in 1874, when twenty-seven years old, came to the United States.
Going direct to Clay county, Minnesota, he bought a farm within
two miles of the present site of Hawley, government land being
then plentiful in that region. In 1876 he visited his home in Eng
land, but the following year returned to his farm, which he im
proved with comfortable buildings and cultivated till 1879. Leav
ing his farm in 1880, he opened a small drug store in Hawley and,
beginning in a small way, extended his business with the growth
of the town, and after some ten years replaced his store building
with a larger one suited to the needs of his growing trade, where
his business is now — 1909 — carried on. During the thirty years
that he has been in business in Hawley, Mr. Glaisyer has been
actively identified with the material development of the town,
and has always been active in civic affairs. He served as village
treasurer fourteen years, 1882-96, and for two years was justice
of the peace. He Avas the second postmaster of Hawley, serving
four years, under appointment by President Cleveland. Prior to
the formation of the independent school district, he served twelve
years as clerk of schools, and in 1909 Avas elected president of the
school board, and served on the building committee in the erec
tion of the high school building. He is a member of the Masonic
Order and at present master of his lodge, No. 256, at Hawley.
In 1878 Mr. Glaisyer married Miss Emma Caroline Plummer,
one of the pioneer teachers of Hawley. Of seven children born
to them, Arthur R., the eldest, is a graduate of the high school
and of a college in England, is now a veterinary surgeon in the
service of the United States army in the Philippines ; Earnest L.,
the second child, also a veterinarian, is in the government employ
at Salt Lake City; Phoebe is married to Mr. Frank Wood and

1014 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
lives at Bismarck, N. D. ; Wallace Victor, a veterinarian, is in the
government service in Oregon; Violet Maud, a graduate of the
high school, lives at home; H. T. Bernard, a civil engineer; and
Harold Roland, the youngest, is nearly through the high school.
William James Glass, a native of New York state, was born
at Glenville, Schenectady county, New York, on December 3,
1861. His parents were Cornelius and Elizabeth Glass. Father
was a farmer by occupation. Both parents came from the north
of Ireland to the United States in 1848, and located in the state
of New York, where they lived until the death of the father, when
his mother came to North Dakota in 1896, where she still lives.
William J. was educated in- the common schools of his native
town, and by hard study fitted himself for teaching, but not find
ing that occupation congenial, he went to Amsterdam, New York,
and learned the carpenter trade, which he followed until June,
1883, Avhen he removed to North Dakota.
After coming to North Dakota he followed his trade at Devils
Lake and at Larimore until the spring of 1884, when he made
final proof on a quarter section of land near Churches Ferry. In
August, 1884, he came to Inkster as manager of F. H. Stoltze,
known as the Northwestern Lumber Company, which position he
held for twenty-three years.
In 1907 the Stoltze interests were sold to the Atlas Lumber
Company and Mr. Glass remained in the same position until Janu
ary, 1908, when he resigned to give his attention to his farming
interests. He owns a fine home in Inkster, and is the owner of the
Coulee farm of 960 acres and the Clear Meadow farm of eighty
acres. He has held many local offices : treasurer of Strabane for
ten years, ti'easurer of the city of Inkster for four years and of
school district 103 for twelve years, and is now serving as alder
man. In the Masonic Order he has held many positions of honor, is
a member of Forest River Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M. ; Hillsboro
Lodge of Perfection ; North Dakota Consistory No. 132, Fargo ;
and El Zagal Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., at Fargo; and the I. O. O.
F., of Inkster ; has held the office of worshipful master of the Blue
Lodge for four years.
Mr. Glass was married in January, 1889, to Miss Ellen Mary

BIOGRAPHY 1015
Sorg, of Inkster, N. D. They have one son, Elwyn Cornelius
Glass, who was born in 1894.
William Clark Goddard, cashier of the First State Bank of
Leonard, N. D., and agent of the William H. White Lumber Com
pany, was born August 27, 1871, at St. Ansgar, Iowa. His par
ents, Robert C. and Ada E. Goddard, were of English ancestry,
their forefathers settling in the state of Maine in 1700. Our sub
ject received a common school education and came to North Da
kota in April, 1898. He started in business with the Gull River
Lumber Company at Wahpeton in the spring of 1899. This com
pany was succeeded by the W. H. White Lumber Company, and
at this date— 1909 — Mr. Goddard is still their representative. On
August 1, 1903, he became cashier of the First State Bank of
Leonard, N. D., which position he still holds. Mr. Goddard is a
thirty-second degree Mason and a Mystic Shriner.
Mr. Goddard was married January 17, 1900, at Marshall,
Minn., to Miss Anna M. Pearce.
Joseph V. Godfrey, the hustling young manufacturer and con
tractor of Moorhead, is more than entitled to the patronage he
receives and the brief mention here given.
Mr. Godfrey is the son-in-law of Dr. Daniel C. Darrow, presi
dent of the Moorhead Hospital, Mrs. Godfrey being Miss Edith
Darrow before her marriage in 1899. He is really a Boston man,
having obtained the greater part of his education there and in
the high school of Roxbury, Mass., from which he graduated with
the class of 1891. He was born, however, in Leominster, Mass.,
on November 23, 1874. His parents are James V. and Abbie Jane
(White) Godfrey, who are both natives of Massachusetts and old
residents of Boston, where they now reside, and Mr. Godfrey
controls some large milling interests. Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey are
the parents of four children: Joseph V. is the second child, and
after finishing school he engaged in the flour milling business
with his father and continued until 1896, when he came to Moor
head and associated himself with the North Dakota Milling Com
pany and remained with them five years, or until the firm dis
solved. He then took a position as salesman for the Red Lake
Falls Milling Company, which he held for four years, and in 1905
went into business for himself and commenced the manufacture

1016 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
of concrete for sidewalks and building purposes, employing a
large force of help, and was generally successful from the first.
He is uoav one of the leading manufacturers in this part of the
country, highly esteemed for his upright, fair and square dealing,
and is considered a most worthy and valuable citizen.
Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey haA7e two children, Vernon D. and Anna
Belle. Charles Arthur Gram was born in Toronto, Canada, August
26, 1869, and is the son of Jacob and Jane Lundy Gram. Our
subject's father was descended from Pennsylvania Dutch, who at
an early date settled where Toronto is now located. His mother
Avas a descendant from Lundy, of Lundy's Lane. After receiving
a common school education, Charles A. came to North Dakota in
1882, and took a special course in the State University at Grand
Forks. He is president of the Gram & Hull Company, of Sheldon,
is a member of the Masons and grand patron Order of Eastern
Star, 1907-1908. From 1901 to 1907 he was judge of the county
court of Ransom county. Judge Gram was married June 9, 1897,
to Clara A. Roesler at Casselton, N. D., and they reside at Sheldon.
Enos Gray, Avho for many years has been a substantial citizen
of Cass county, North Dakota, is a native of Embden, Me., and
Avas born February 4, 1829, to Joshua and Betsey7 (Williams)
Gray, both natives of that state. The father, who spent his life
in Maine, was a farmer, as was also his father, Joshua Gray, Sr.
Our subject grew up on his father's farm, Avith his two
brothers and tAvo sisters, and acquired his education in the public
schools. After attaining his majority he Avent to California and
spent four years in mining operations, then returned to his native
state and lived in Portland till 1876.
In the spring of 1879 Mr. Gray located a homestead in Gill
toAvnship, Cass county, North Dakota, and then began that career
which has proved most successful. From a tract of vrild land in
an unsettled country his homestead has been converted into one
of the model farms of Red River A7alley, finely improA-ed with
good buildings and equipped with everything in the way of mod
ern equipment needed in the conduct of an up-to-date farm.
Mr. Gray's resources have grown Avith the development of the
country, other acres have been added to his original homestead

BIOGRAPHY" 1017
from time to time, until now — 1909 — he owns some 1,300 acres of
tillable land devoted to the growing of wheat and other small
grains, and all in crop at the present time. Mr. Gray, after many
years of hard work, has retired and turned over the active man
agement of his farm to his only son, Oscar F., whose yearly prod
ucts amount to some 20,000 bushels of grain.
The Casselton branch of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which
passes through the farm, affords fine shipping facilities. Mr. Gray
is a man of influence in his community, a Democrat in politics,
and has been honored with numerous offices of trust. He has
served on the township board as chairman, Avas county assessor
in 1887-88, represented the fourteenth district in the constitu
tional convention of 1889, and has filled other local offices, always
with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his f ellow citizens.
On May 13, 1852, Mr. Gray married Miss Mindwell Thompson,
of Embden, Me., a companion of his childhood, and they have one
son, Oscar P., born November 26, 1853, and one daughter, Imo-
gene, born June 8, 1856, both of whom reside in Casselton at the
home of their parents.
H. H. Grover was born September 11, 1839, at Windsor, Ohio.
His parents both died in 1854, and he was sent out into the world
to hustle for himself. His early education was received at the
district school and Orwell Academy. He taught several terms of
three months each in the district school, receiving at the start
sixteen dollars per month, and boarded around. Brought up on
a farm, he continued farming for several years.
In 1861 he was married to Jane L. Morris at Harts Grove, Ohio,
who still lives with him at Lisbon, N. D. Four children were
born to this union, two girls and two boys.
Harley S. Grover, cashier of the State Bank of Lisbon, is the
only child living. The oldest girl, Cora L. Grover, died at Fargo
in December, 1881. The second girl, Lillian A. Grover, married
Robert P. Stanton at Lisbon in 1883; moved to Seattle, Wash.,
where she died about twelve years afterward, leaving two boys,
who, with their father, still live at Seattle. His youngest boy,
Kubie R. Grover, died at Lisbon, N. D., in 1889.
About 1870 he engaged in the mercantile business, first at
Geneva, Ohio, where he was in partnership with N. K. Hubbard,

1018 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
who is well known about Fargo as one of the early settlers. This
partnership continued about one year, when he sold his interest
to N. K. Hubbard and moved to Harts Grove, Ohio, and engaged
in a general store, doing business alone for several years. He did
an extensive business, being postmaster, with the office in the
store. Finally selling his business in Ohio, in 1880 he came to Fargo,
where he was employed as clerk in the extensive store of Good
man & Yerxa. In 1881 he went back to Ohio, disposing of his
property there, and with his family moved to Fargo and took a
claim in Ransom county. Since that time he has been a resident
of Ransom county, where he engaged in the real estate business
for several years and did a lively rustling business until his health
began to fail, when he sold out to the Lisbon Land & Loan Agency,
who are now doing business at Lisbon.
Retiring from active business, he built a nice block in 1903,
which is occupied by two stores and Masonic Temple, and which
is an ornament to the city. Occupying an office connected with
the block, as justice of the peace and police magistrate and look
ing after his several interests in keeping his various places rented,
he is enjoying the fruits of his many years of hard labor, and
taking life as quietly and easy as circumstances wiU permit.
Olaf J. Hagen, B. Sc, M. D., is one of our younger class of
physicians and surgeons of Moorhead, having begun his practice
here in 1907. He is a brother of Mr. Halvor J. Hagen, a promi
nent banker of Fort Abercrombie, and is the seventh child of a
family of nine children, seven of whom are living.
Dr. Hagen was born in Menominee, Wis., September 16, 1872,
of Norwegian ancestry. His parents are Jens H. and Gunhild
(Stendahl) Hagen, both natives of Throndhjem, Norway, who
came to the United States and became early settlers of Fort Aber
crombie in 1873. Here they engaged in farming on the plains at
which they were generally successful and spent the remainder of
their lives. Mrs. Hagen died in 1908 at the age of seventy-six
years. Olaf J. Hagen attended the public schools of Richland county,
North Dakota, where he obtained a substantial foundation for
his college courses, whieh began in the State Normal at St. Cloud,

BIOGRAPHY 1019
Minn. From there he entered the university at Valparaiso, Ind.,
and graduated from that institution with the class of 1896. He
then entered the academic department and later the medical de
partment of the Minnesota State University, from which he grad
uated in 1906. Has since taken post-graduate courses in the
clinics of the Berlin University and Jefferson Medical College,
Philadelphia. Dr. Hagen has always been greatly interested in educational
work — from 1891 until 1894 he was instructor in the Concordia
College at Moorhead, and served as county superintendent of
schools of Richland county, North Dakota, from 1898 to 1902.
He is now city physician of Moorhead, and is considered a most
worthy and valuable citizen. He is a member of the Masonic
Order, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America,
and also belongs to the A. 0. U. W.
T. J. Hagen, treasurer of Grand Forks City, was born at
Hedermorken, Norway, August 26, 1865 ; went to Kristianin, the
capital of the country, April 11, 1882, to learn the trade of gun-
smithing, whieh at that time was one of the leading trades of the
country. After learning the trade and working a year as a jour
neyman, he emigrated to Hillsboro, N. D., where he went to work
in a general blacksmith shop, and followed that trade in several
towns of the valley, and finally, on July 25, 1889, opened a gen
eral blacksmith shop for himself, which he occupied till the fall
of 1905, when he sold out.
In the spring of 1906 he was elected to the responsible posi
tion of city treasurer of the city of Grand Forks.
William G. Hammet, who comes of English lineage, is a native
of Tolpuddle, Dorsetshire, England, and was born in 1874, the
eldest child of William and Annie (Hopkins) Hammet. His great
grandfather, Richard Hammet, was a bricklayer in England. His
grandparents, William and Judith (Lovelace) Hammet, were
born and died in England. They had four children, two of whom
married and reared families. Clara, Sarah Ann and two daugh
ters, remained single and lived on the family homestead in Dor
setshire, England. Here, on June 20, 1847, was born William
Hammet, the father of our subject. He acquired a good common
school education in his native place and there learned the carpen-

1020 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ter 's trade under his father. In 1880 he came to this country and
settled first at Hawley, Clay county, Minnesota, where he built a
small house and lived two years. He then moved his house onto
the quarter section homestead tract he had taken up in Cromwell
township, and began the development of what has become, under
his wise and progressive management, one of the model farms of
Clay county, noted for the fertility and productiveness of its soil
and the enterprise of its citizens, a wonderful transformation from
the wildness that everywhere prevailed but little more than a
generation ago.
Mr. Hammet is a man of influence in his community, and before
retiring from his farm served as clerk of the school district sev
eral years, was overseer of the highway and served as justice of
the peace.
In 1905 Mr. Hammet leased his farm and with his family took
up his residence in the village of Hawley, to enjoy the well earned
fruits of his labors.
In May, 1871, he married Miss Annie, the daughter of Tim
othy and Priscilla (Dean) Hopkins. Besides WiUiam G., our sub
ject, their children are: Augustus, who died in 1903; Lillian,
who lives at home, and Edith, who is married to Mr. Rolland E.
Shuck, a surveyor of Duluth, Minn.
After finishing his preliminary education in the district
schools, William G. studied at the Moorhead State Normal School,
then spent some time teaching in his home district and at George
town. Later he attended the law department of the University
of Minnesota, and after his graduation in 1902 he Avas admitted
to the bar and at once began the practice of law at Hawley and
conducts, in connection with his professional Avork, an extensive
insurance agency.
In 1903 Mr. Hammet married Miss Florence Morton, a native
of Reesville, Clinton county, Ohio. Mrs. Hammet is a woman of
fine attainments, and prior to her marriage was a successful
teacher, and now is an able and invaluable assistant to her hus
band in his professional and office work.
Hon. Louis Benjamin Hanna. — Successful competition from a
political point of view is a good criterion of a man 's Avorth in the
estimation of the public if the test comes through a primary elec-

BIOGRAPHY" 1021
tion like the one recently held for the purpose of securing candi
dates for public office.
Mr. L. B. Planna, the choice of the voters of his party for rep
resentation of his state in Washington during the next congress,
was born at New Brighton, Pa., August 9, 1860. Pie was the son
of Jason R. and Margaret A. (Lewis) Hanna, natives of Ohio and
Massachusetts respectively. His father was of Scotch and Irish
descent, and his people came to this country in 1750. Jason R.
Hanna was a car builder, and served as captain of Company C,
Sixty-third Regiment of Pennsyh7ania Volunteers, during the
Civil War. The ancestors on the mother's side, who were of Eng
lish and French descent, came to America about 1631.
Mr. Hanna received his education in the public schools of
Cleveland, Ohio, Pittsfield, Mass., and New York city. He came
to North Dakota in 1881 and has been engaged in farming and in
financial enterprises since 1886. He founded a private bank at
Page, N. D., in June, 1886, that afterwards became incorporated
as a state bank, Avith Mr. Hanna as its president. He also became
interested in the First National Bank of Fargo in 1899 and its
vice president, and in May, 1908, was elected its president.
Mr. Hanna was elected to the state legislature as a member
of the lower house in 1895, and in 1897 he was elected to the sen
ate, and again elected to the state senate in 1905. While repre
senting his state in that law making body Mr. Hanna, ever mind
ful of the people's interests, strongly advocated the enactment
of good pure food laws ; and his representation of the rights of
the people generally along all such lines has secured for him the
best wishes of his party in general, as evidenced by his recent
success at the polls.
Mr. Hanna was married in 1885, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Miss
Lottie L. Thatcher, a native pf Massachusetts. Four children
were granted to them as follows: Margaret E. died June, 1894;
Jean E., Dorothy L., and Robert L.
Mr. Hanna has filled numerous local offices and is one of the
best known men of the state.
Henry C. Hansbrough, senior United States senator from
North Dakota, was born in Randolph county, Illinois, January 30,
1848. His parents were Kentuekians, his father a partisan and

1022 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
close friend of Henry Clay, in honor of whom the subject of this
sketch was named. His more remote ancestors were Virginians.
Henry was reared upon a farm and given a common school edu
cation. His parents removed to California Avhen he was nine years
of age, and there a little later he learned the printer's trade.
From 1869 to 1879 he was connected with the San Francisco
"Chronicle," for the latter portion of this period as editorial
writer and as assistant managing editor. His health failing, he
removed in 1879 to Baraboo, Wis., where he was engaged in jour
nalism. In 1881 he came to North Dakota, locating in Grand
Porks, and was thus one of the pioneer residents of the valley.
He was prominently identified with the development of the valley
for a number of years. He established the Grand Porks "Daily
NeAvs" soon after his arrival here. In 1883 he sold the "News"
and removed to Devils Lake, then in its embryonic stage. He
established the Devils Lake "Inter Ocean" and has continued its
publication ever since. It has long been known as one of the
foremost weekly papers of North Dakota. Mr. Hansbrough took
an active interest in political affairs of the territory, both through
his papers and through his personal participation in public affairs.
He was one of the active factors in the early history of Devils
Lake. When the city was incorporated, in 1887, he was elected
as the first mayor and served in that capacity for two terms. He
also served the city of Devils Lake as postmaster.
It was during the agitation for division of the territory of
Dakota during the latter part of the eighties that Mr. Hans
brough had his entrance into the active political life he has led
ever since. He was one of the foremost advocates for division of
the territory during the long period of conflict preceding the
accomplishment of division. At the territorial convention held in
Jamestown in June, 1888, Mr. Hansbrough was nominated and
elected as one of the delegates to the national convention whieh
nominated Benjamin Harrison for president. The fight was a
bitter one and the opponents of division sought to punish Mr.
Hansbrough for his active participation. His friends rallied to
his support, however, and he was nominated and elected as one
of the first congressmen from North Dakota. He was one of the
active members of the session and was the author of the anti-

BIOGRAPHY 1023
lottery bill Avhich successfully put to rout the Louisiana Lottery
Company very soon after its memorable campaign by which it
sought to debauch the people of North Dakota. He was defeated
for a renomination for congress in 1890, but immediately became
a candidate for United States senator and was elected by the leg
islature of 1891. He was re-elected in 1897 and again in 1903.
His term expired in March, 1909.
Christian M. Hansen, of Northwood, N. D., is a native of Den
mark, and was born October 24, 1844. His father was Frederick
Hansen and his mother's name was Kjerstine (Gertsen) Hansen,
both natives of Denmark. Our subject was educated in his native
land and first came to the United States in 1865 when twenty-
one years of age, arriving in New York November 12 that year.
The year following he went to the state of Indiana, and on the
21st day of November, 1866, took out his naturalization papers
in Tippicanoe county, but in a short time returned to Denmark,
where he was married on April 22, 1869, to Katrine Madsen, and
on the 1st of May following came to Alexandria, Douglas county,
Minnesota, and took up a homestead, where they remained until
November, 1884, when they came to Northwood, N. D., and en
gaged in business in Northwood in 1894; was burned out Sep
tember 12, 1900, but immediately resumed business and has con
tinued ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen have a family of four
children: Kerstina, Maria Martinus, Marten and Frederick
Hansen. Nels Hanson, deceased, who was for years a resident farmer
of Clay county, Minnesota, was born in Norway about 1845, and
came to the United States in the sixties. He lived for a time in
Pierce county, Wisconsin, and moved to Minnesota, settling in
Clay county, where he took up a homestead claim and lived there
until his death, which was caused by an accident on a railway
crossing, on November 17, 1897. Mrs. Hanson, his wife, still lives
there and the farm is conducted under her wise management.
Mr. Hanson received a good education in Norway before emi
grating to America, and worked for a time as a clerk in a store.
His first residence in this country was a sod shanty ten by twelve,
where he lived for about two years, and where their oldest son,
Hans Helgedalen, was born. He later purchased a tree claim

1024 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
adjoining his present homestead, and immediately set to work
preparing lumber for a house. He also built his neighbor's
(Andrew Larson) house, and a line of interesting events may be
gleaned from Mrs. Hanson of their early experiences in Clay
county. Mrs. Hanson was Miss Annie Herum before her mar
riage, and her husband was the son of Hans Helgedalen, of Nor
way. They have a family of ten children, nine of whom are living.
Mrs. Hanson is the daughter of Soren and Margaret Herum; her
grandparents were pioneers of Wisconsin in territorial days. Mr.
Hanson was a wideawake farmer, and his beautiful home is among
the best in the county. He was for years a director of the schools
and a trustee of the Synod Lutheran church, of which he and Mrs.
Hanson were charter members. Their family have all been reared
in this faith, and Mrs. Hanson still attends as a devoted member.
Mr. Hanson was considered among the leading farmers of his
locality, and as a good friend and citizen he ranked among the
first. Oliver Sigvard Hanson, of Grand Forks, N. D., was born in
Hanover township, Allamakee county, Iowa, June 3, 1862, son of
Hans A. and Maren Hanson, natives of Norway. They came to
Iowa in 1851.
Mr. Hanson received a fair education in the Iowa schools, and
since the age of twenty-two has been engaged in the management
of banks. He removed to North Dakota November, 1881, and ever
since has been identified with the banking interests of the state.
He took charge of the State Bank of Buxton in 1884, and is now
president of the State Bank of Grand Forks, president of the
Scandinavian American Bank of Grand Forks, president of the
State Bank of Buxton, and vice president of the State Bank of
Grandon, N. D. He takes some interest in politics, though not an
office seeker. At the time of McKinley's nomination, at St. Louis,
in 1896, he was a delegate to the convention from North Dakota.
He is a member of the Grand Forks Y. M. C. A.
Mr. Planson was married in 1892 to Miss Louise Sorlie, of
Hartland, Minn. Their children are named as follows: Harley
Irving, Meryn Herbert, Verdine Olive, Charlotte Louise and Caro
line Josephine.
Louis K. Hassell, who ranks among the progressive and enter-

G&

~^j£c So* (JidLy-

BIOGRAPHY 1025
prising men of Grand Forks, N. D., was born near Hamar, Nor
way, August 19, 1862, and is one of a family of five children, two
of whom are now living, born to Christian and Oline (Fremstad)
Hassell, both natives of Norway, though the mother was of Ger
man parentage. They immigrated with their family to the United
States in the early summer of 1881 and settled in Walsh county,
North Dakota, where the mother died and where the father still
resides on the family homestead.
Louis acquired his schooling in his native country, and after
the family came hither he was for a few months employed in the
law office of Mayor Hamilton at Grand Forks, and in the fall of
1881 became editor of the Grand Forks "Tidende," a Norwegian
newspaper. Three years later he was made deputy in the office
of the city auditor and treasurer, and then from the fall of 1884
till January 1, 1887, served as clerk in the office of the register of
deeds for Grand Forks county.
The need of a Scandinavian paper in Grand Forks led him to
start the ' ' Normanden, ' ' which he conducted till in the summer of
1888, whfen he sold it. He then worked several months in the
office of the county auditor, and in the fall of 1889 was elected
on the Republican ticket clerk of the district court, an office to
which he Avas re-elected four times. After his retirement from
the clerk's office Mr. Hassell served for a time as deputy sheriff,
until he was elected to his present office of county judge of Grand
Forks county.
From the time he settled in Grand Forks twenty-eight years
ago, Mr. Hassell has made a steady advance, and largely through
his own efforts has risen from comparative obscurity to a place
of honor and influence. He has been actively identified with the
Republican party and more or less prominent in its local councils.
He belongs to several benevolent and fraternal organizations,
holding membership in the Masonic Order, the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, the United Workmen of America, and
Knights of Pythias. In 1886 Mr. Hassell married Miss Sophia A.
Anderson, a native of Norway. Their four children are named
respectively, Clarence L., Selma L., Olga 0., and Agnes F.
Rev. S. G. Hauge, the minister of the Lutheran church at Haw
ley, Minn., is a wideaAvake progressive man and a genuine force

1026 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
in the religious life of the community. He is a native of Norway
and was born in 1875, and there acquired his preliminary educa
tion. Pie came to the United States in 1891, and two years later
became a student at Augustine College, Canton, S. D., and later
took a course in theology at the Theological Seminary, Minne
apolis, where he was graduated with the class of 1900.
On leaving the seminary, Rev. Hauge turned his attention to
his chosen work, and on August 3, 1900, was settled in charge of
the Scandinavian Lutheran church at Hawley, being the first resi
dent pastor, though the church was organized in 1898. The work
has developed rapidly under his wise management and pastoral
care, and the organization has grown from a comparatively small
body of communicants to an aggressive church of some 300 souls,
whose influence is- a continual force in the moral and spiritual
uplift of the community. Rev. Hauge preaches fifty sermons in
the Norwegian language and about twenty-five in English during
the year, and besides conducts religious services at four other
churches in neighboring tOAA-nships, having in all nearly 1,000
souls under his spiritual charge.
The Scandinavian Lutheran church in Hawley has an active
Ladies' Aid Society which meets every other Monday and is a
helpful agency in raising funds for the home church and for home
and foreign mission work ; as is also the Luther League, an organi
zation of young people, with a membership of tAventy-five.
The Sunday school, in whieh are gathered nearly 100 pupils,
taught by seven devoted teachers, is under the superintendency
of Mrs. Hauge, Avho is a true helper in her husband's work, she
being a woman of refinement and a graduate of her home high
school. They were married July 25, 1900, at Toronto, S. D., and have
three children, viz. : Ragnhild, Norma E., and Haakon.
Dr. Knut Olai E. Heimark, the first white child born in Yellow
Medicine county, Minnesota, was born on a farm October 14,
1873, to Endre O. and Sarah (Langeland) Heimark, the former a
native of Norway, born in 1844, and the latter born in Muscatine,
Iowa. They had six sons and eleven daughters, of whom five
sons and seven daughters are now (1909) living, eight married
and heads of families.

BIOGRAPHY 1027
The father immigrated to this country in 1863 in a sailing
vessel, the voyage occupying six weeks. He settled first in Iowa,
and engaged as a laborer on the railroad. In 1873 he moved to
Yellow Medicine county, Minnesota, and pre-empted a quarter
section of government land and there made a home. He experi
enced all the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life in a
new country, but faced them with determination and in spite of
adverse circumstances surmounted obstacles that would have
appalled a man of less courage.
Beginning with only two dollars, and owing a note of forty
dollars, he worked and waited, strong in faith and buoyed by
hope, and at one time owned as high as 800 acres of land, and
with his boys cultivated as high as 500 acres. He still lives on the
homestead and now has a fine farm of 240 acres, worth sixty dol
lars an- acre. Our subject spent his boyhood on his father's farm
and acquired his preliminary education in the district schools.
At the age of sixteen he entered St. Olaf Academy, where he was
graduated in 1894. Then studied two years at the University of
Minnesota, and in 1896 entered the College of Physicians and Sur
geons and was graduated in 1899 with the degree of M. D.
Dr. Heimark at once began the practice of his profession at
Hawley, in Clay county, and his practice has grown with the
growth and development of the place, and today he ranks among
the leading and influential physicians of the Red River valley.
Dr. Heimark is a Republican in politics and has held various
local offices. He was president of the village council in 1906-07,
and is now chairman of the board of health. He is president of
the Independent Voters ' League and takes an active part in secur
ing the election of worthy men to office.
On August 25, 1900, Dr. Heimark married Miss Anna Rebecca,
a daughter of John and Ellen (Guilsness) Peterson, of St. Croix
county, Wisconsin, and they have two daughters.
Dr. Heimark, besides being a successful physician, is a wide
awake business man and owns a splendid farm of 240 acres,
besides his elegant home in Hawley.
Knud Helgeson is another prosperous farmer of Ulen town
ship who began life as a poor boy in a log cabin twelve by four
teen, with sod on the sides. Four of his children were born in

1028 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
this cabin, in whieh he lived for about twelve years. By that
time he was able to build a larger one. His first trading point
was twenty-one miles distant, and by ox teams was his best trans
portation facilities. He now owns a quarter section of land with
ninety acres under cultivation, a good house, barn and other out
buildings, which makes one of the most beautiful country homes
in the county. He lived on a rented farm in Dodge county, Min
nesota, for about three years, but his ambition was to have the
farm in his own right. In 1874 he was married, in Dodge county,
and there took out his first naturalization papers, and later on
obtained his second papers at Ada, Minn. He came to Clay county
in 1882, and has since played an active part in the development
of the county.
Mr. Helgeson has always taken great interest in local affairs,
is broad-minded and liberal in his views, and ready at all times
to support any movement which may be of benefit to his town and
county. He served for some years as road commissioner and on
the school board. He was well educated in the public schools of
Norway, and came to the United States in the year 1871. His
parents were Helge Nilson and Bertha (Knutson) Helgeson. They
had a family of five children, viz. . Nils, Knud, Corice and Ger
trude. Both the parents are now deceased; the father passed
aAvay at the age of sixty-five years and the mother at the age of
fifty. Mr. Knud and Mrs. Aasie Helgeson are the parents of nine
children, eight of whom are living at home, viz. : Helma, now
Mrs. I. R. Swenson, lives in Idaho and has five children ; Gilbert,
Theodore, Christina, Annie, Andrew, Carl, Ida and Nils.
The family are all members of the United Lutheran church,
of which Mr. Helgeson is a trustee.
Fred Herring is one of the wideawake citizens of Hawley,
Minn., and a popular man in his community. He is a native of
England, was born at Sandford-on-Thames, in 1867, and is the
eighth child of ten children — five of whom are living — born to
William and Eliza (Payne) Herring. He was educated in the
higher grade schools at Oxford, and after closing his studies
taught some five years in the school Avhere he had been a pupil.

BIOGRAPHY 1029
He then took a position as bookkeeper in a grocery store, con
nected with which was a sub-postal station, affording him an op
portunity to acquaint himself with many details of the postal
service. In 1894 Mr. Herring came to the United States and settled at
Hitterdal, in Clay county, Minnesota, where he clerked ' in the
store of a cousin until 1901. Removing thence to Hawley, he con
tinued in clerical work some six years, the latter part of that time
being assistant postmaster under Mrs. Susan C. Fulton, who suc
ceeded to the office of postmistress on the death of her husband,
an appointee of President McKinley. On Mrs. Fulton's retire
ment from the office, of five candidates for the place Mr. Herring
received a majority of twenty-seven votes over his competitors,
and in 1907 received his commission and entered upon his duties,
being the seventh incumbent of that office at Hawley.
In assuming the duties of his office, Mr. Herring brought to
his work a most valuable experience gained in his clerical posi
tion in England in early life, and as assistant under his predeces
sor; and his management and systematic methods in handling
the mails have gained for him wide popularity among the patrons
of the office. His able assistant, Miss Edna Gibbons, is a valuable
helper in the office, and it is worthy of note that in the year 1908
the money order branch of the office amounted to $22,385.43, a
record showing for the town.
Mr. Herring is the only member of his immediate family in
this country, and in 1908 visited his native place with his family.
He is active in social and religious affairs, being recording stew
ard of the Methodist Episcopal church of Hawley and deputy
superintendent of the Sunday school. He is an active member of
the Masonic Order, being secretary of the local lodge. The local
telephone system of about 100 subscribers and the village electric
light plant are largely due to his persistent efforts, and the free
dom from "blind pigs," of which the temperance sentiment is so
proud, results from the same cause. His latest fad is the beauti
fying of the cemetery, which has been somewhat neglected, but
will undoubtedly soon show signs of improvement.
In 1899 Mr. Herring married Miss Victoria, a daughter of

1030 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
James and Emma (Reed) Reed, and a native of Hamilton, On
tario. Her parents celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their
marriage in 1907 at Burlington, Ontario.
Mr. and Mrs. Herring have three bright children, viz. : Made
line E., Bertha E., and William James, named for his two grand
parents. Mrs. Lars 0. Hitterdal. — In one of the sightly places fronting
the pretty lake of Hitterdal, on the northeast side, is the modern
brick residence of ten rooms, surrounded by a beautiful grove of
several acres, located in Section 34, Goose Prairie township. Here
we find the genial lady whose hospitality has no bounds — always
with a word of cheer to any one she may meet.
Mrs. Hitterdal was born in Lunner, Ringerike, Norway, in
1865, the daughter of Klemmet and Christa (Halverson) Helge
son, who crossed with her mother in 1875 to America. (A further
account of Mrs. Hitterdal's family is given in the biography of
her brother, Mr. Helge Klemmetson, elsewhere in this work.) She
was reared amidst humble surroundings, attended the district
schools, and circumstances compelled her early training in gen
eral housework by her mother, who had herself passed through
many years of privations and sufferings of pioneer life. Not so
with her daughter, however. The family emigrated to this coun
try when Mrs. Hitterdal was but ten years of age, and, becoming
thoroughly familiar with the English language and the Avays of
the people, she was soon able to move in the best of society. Her
marriage was a fortunate one, which occurred in 1883, to Mr.
Lars 0. Hitterdal, with whom she lived happily until death sep
arated them on November 21, 1900.
Lars O. Hitterdal was born in Norway, April 26, 1858, the son
of Ole and B  (Larson) Hitterdal. The family emigrated
to America when the son, Lars, was eleven years of age, in 1869,
and for the first two years they lived in Iowa, following the occu
pation of farming. In 1871 — the year of the great Chicago fire —
they moved to Minnesota, where Mr. Lars 0. Plitterdal took up
a homestead in Goose Prairie township, Clay county, and began
life like many other pioneers, single-handed. His crops for the
first few years were destroyed by the grasshoppers, and he was
forced to resort to trapping for early sustenance, and at the same

BIOGRAPHY 1031
time working early and late to improve his land, which he broke
with oxen. Their first residence was made of hewn logs, in which
they lived for some years, and where their first child was born.
Patience and perseverance were the principal characteristics of
both Mr. and Mrs. Hitterdal, and after considerable exercise of
these particular features, success began to dawn, and they were
soon classed among the most successful farmers of Clay county,
and at his death Mr. Hitterdal owned 500 acres of the richest
soil in the county and a beautiful ten-room two-story brick resi
dence, with barns, granary and other commodious buildings to
correspond. The prosperous little town of Hitterdal was named after the
venerable old pioneer father of our subject, Mr. Ole Hitterdal,
and is one of the thriftiest towns in the Red River valley. It has
a local bank, three general stores, grain elevator, a hotel, churches,
etc., whieh are all up-to-date in every respect. It is a good grain
center and contains many beautiful homes.
From Mrs. Lars Hitterdal may be gleaned a most interesting
history of the early days in this county, having been a resident
since 1883, and her home is always open and welcome to a host of
Avarm friends.
Iver Holman, one of the sturdy Norwegian farmers now located
in Section 28, Ulen township, Clay county, was born in Hudlund,
Norway, in 1851. His father was Hans Peterson, who conducted
a flour mill in Norway, known as "Val's Mills." His sons also
learned the trade under his preeeptorship, and became eminent
millers and good business men. He was born about the year 1817,
and emigrated to Dakota in 1885. He married Miss Annie Iver-
son, who died in Norway in 1879. Mr. Holman died in February,
1892, at the age of seventy-five and was buried near Wolcott
village. Mr. Iver Holman 's educational advantages were somewhat
limited, although he was an apt student in the common schools
and took advantage of every opportunity he could get for learn
ing. At an early age he learned the millers' trade and worked
for various millers for about ten years, and then purchased a mill
of his own in the village of Tottem and Bjaenick, which he oper
ated for about eight years, and during his residence there was

1032 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
married in 1877 to Miss Ronda Peterson, and she too was born in
Hudlund, Norway, January 1, 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Holman have
a family of five living children : Hans, who was born in Norway,
married Miss Ella Sliper, and they have one child, Iver; Peter,
the second child, was also born in Norway ; Annie and Ingral were
born on the Dakota homestead, and Inga Ronda, the youngest,
was born in Richland county, North Dakota.
In the year 1883 Mr. Holman set sail for America on one of
the Allen line steamships, bound for MayviUe, N. D., where he
arrived with Mrs. Holman and their two children on the 6th day
of June, 1883. They remained here for about two weeks, Mr.
Holman in the meantime securing his naturalization papers, and
moved to the town of Lakota, where Mr. Holman took up a pre
emption claim, and was among the first to settle in that part of
the country. He secured passage with a Mr. Andrew Anderson,
a friend, who was also about to make the trip, but his settlement
with Anderson took all his surplus money and left the outlook
rather gloomy for him. However, he built him a sod shanty,
twelve by fourteen, where he resided for about seven years and
endured more than his share of hardships in the way of poor
crops, and finally decided to make another move and returned
from Walsh county, North Dakota, to Richland county, where he
took some land on shares close to Wolcott, in debt $150.00. The
first cow he owned cost him $53.00. He lived on this land for two
years and in 1892 moved to Clay county, Ulen township, and
purchased 240 acres at $10.00 per acre. Here he built a nice resi
dence, and out-buildings, planted about five acres of trees, and
now has one of the most beautiful country homes in the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Holman and family are all members of the
United Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Holman is trustee. He
served one year on the board of supervisors, and is considered
one of the most popular citizens of his community.
James Holes, of Fargo, N. D., owner of the Pioneer farm, and
himself the pioneer farmer of Cass county, was born January 29,
1845, at Warren, Bradford county, Pennsylvania. His parents
were James and Mary Holes, natives of Derbyshire, England,
they were born respectively in 1795 and 1802, and came to the
United States in 1832, and first settled near Ithica, New York

BIOGRAPHY 1033
state ; and later moved to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where
our subject was born.
His first school days were spent in a little school house on his
father's farm, and was continued at the district school at Owego,
N. Y., where his parents settled after leaving Pennsylvania. Pie
made several trips to the Red River valley in 1868 and 1869, while
in the employ of the government as a freighter, and on July 18,
1871, settled in Cass county, North Dakota, where he has resided
ever since, and was the first man to demonstrate that farming
in North Dakota was a paying proposition, and for many years
has been considered authority on all matters pertaining to agri
culture in the Red River valley.
Mr. Holes was married on July 20, 1887, at Fargo, to Miss
Rhoda Harrison. Their children are James Harrison Holes, born
September 23, 1888, Bernard Rupert, born December 20, 1890, and
Marguerite Virginia, born July 28, 1893. Mr. Holes is president
of the American Society of Equity, and has served as county com
missioner of Cass county for nine years.
Ben F. Holt, now manager of the shoe and clothing depart
ments in the store of Norby & Solum, of Barnesville, Minn., is a
promising young business man of this place. He was born in
Wilkin county, Minnesota, October 15, 1882, the son of Brady
Holt. His father is now deceased, and his mother married for
the second time to Mr. Ole E. Vanderborg, who also died in 1908.
Three children were born to them, viz. : Antone, George and
Bertha. Mr. Ben Holt attended the district schools and later took a
commercial course in the correspondence school of Scranton,
Penn., and in about 1900, he came to the city of Barnesville and
secured employment in the department store of Norby & Solum,
where he has remained continuously with the exception of a few
months when he clerked in the grocery department of Y. Gun-
ness & Company. He is a young man of thrift and enterprise,
and his ideas are broad and liberal concerning many local ques
tions of interest in the town. He owns a farm in section  , and
is highly esteemed by his employers for his faithfulness and
veracity. Pie is a member of the Masonic order and the Modern
Brotherhood of America.

1034 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Andrew 0. Houglum, county auditor of Clay county, is one of
the hustling and popular young business men of Moorhead, Minn.
He w7as elected to his present office on the Republican ticket in
November, 1908, and has since served with perfect satisfaction
to the people and with dignity and credit to himself.
Mr. Houglum was born in Becker county, Minnesota, April 19,
1875. He was educated in the public schools of his county, also
a graduate from the Minnesota School of Business, and, possessed
with rare business qualification and more than ordinary ambition
for an active career, he promises to be one of the leading citizens
of his community. His first public office was deputy county
auditor for Clay county, in which capacity he served some eight
years, his manly and upright business methods Avarranting him his
present position.
Newton K. Hubbard. — There is one man in the Red River
valley whose business course in life has always been straight
forward. He is the well known citizen of Fargo, Newton K.
Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard is the sone of George J. and Marian Hubbard,
of West Springfield, Mass., where he was born December 17, 1839.
His father was a farmer and reared a family of five sons, Newton
being the youngest. His grandfather Avas Captain George Hub
bard of Revolutionary fame.
Mr. Hubbard received a common school education, and at the
Providence Conference Seminary, East Greenwich, R. I. In 1859
he moved to Painesville, Ohio, where he taught school two years,
when he enlisted in Company D, of the Seventh Ohio Infantry,
and served three years and three months, participating in many
of the battles waged by the Army of the Potomac, and by the
Army of the Tennessee. Mr. Hubbard spent some time in rebel
prisons, and after serving full time in the army, returned south
and was made purveyor for General Casement's brigade. He
opened his first store in Raleigh, N. C, after the Yankees entered
the city, and was there at the time of the surrender.
September, 1870, he took a claim at the mouth of the Elm
river, North Dakota, and in the spring of 1871 opened a store on
the line of the Northern Pacific Railroad, at Detroit Lake, and
furnished supplies for that railroad during the two following

BIOGRAPHY 1035
years, the firm being Hubbard & Raymond. He also operated
stores at different places along the line, his last one being at
Moorhead, where he carried on business for some time. He also
operated a store with E. S. Tyler, in Fargo, who was his book
keeper, and in 1872 Hubbard & Tyler built the Headquarters
Hotel, at Fargo in sixty days, and opened it at a cost of $20,000.
He bought out Mr. Tyler's interests in 1880, and in 1882 he
sold the hotel property, since which time he has been mostly
engaged in the real estate business, carrying it on in various
parts of the state. He assisted in the organization of the First
National Bank of Fargo, of whieh he was the first vice-president.
He purchased the first three lots in Fargo, being the southwest
corner of Front and Broadway, for $175. The First National
bank built on the corner, purchasing it from Mr. Hubbard for
$700. Mr. Hubbard neA7er aspired to political prominence, but was,
up to the time of his failing health, an active worker in the ranks.
He was one of three delegates to the Chicago National Convention
of 1888. He has always been a consistent Republican.
Mr. Hubbard belongs to the usual number of societies incident
to the life of a busy man. He was one of the charter members
of the Masons, in Fargo, and is an honored member of the Grand
Army Post. He has borne a very active and important part in the
development and up-building of the Red River valley, and is one
of the best knoAvn citizens of the Northwest.
Adison Irvin Hunter, of Grand Forks, N. D., was born July 29,
1860, at Freetown, Ind., son of Cyrus R. and Margaret M.
Hunter, of Scotch and Irish descent.
Adison attended high school at Southport, Ind., and then spent
two years of study at Depauw University, at Greencastle, Ind.,
1879 and 1880. He came to North Dakota in 1883 and went into
the real estate and loan business in partnership with E. L. Emery,
until 1887, when he carried on a livery business for ten years.
In 1897 he engaged in brick manufacturing. He is now president
of the Red River Valley Brick Company, president of the North
Dakota Fair Association, member of the Commercial Club, Elks,
and M. W. A.
On February, 6, 1889, Mr. Hunter was married to Miss Alice

1036 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
C. Bailey, of Indianapolis, Ind. They have one daughter, Alice
M. Hunter.
Kenneth Campbell Hunter, contractor and builder, of Grand
Forks, N. D., is a native of Huron county, Ontario, Canada, where
he was born January, 28, 1858. His father, Kenneth Hunter, was
born in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1825, and at this
date, 1908, is still living. Ann Campbell Hunter, mother of our
subject, was of Scotch ancestry, and was born in 1827, and died
January 31, 1902.
Our subject's opportunities for securing an education were
very limited, the county being sparsely settled and the distance
to school a great handicap. He learned the carpenter trade and
removed to North Dakota in the fall of 1881, and engaged in con
tracting and building, in which he has continued ever since.
From 1884 until 1889 he lived in Crookston, Minn., and then
returned to Grand Forks. Mr. Hunter has served as alderman for
the Fifth ward, and is a stock holder in the Grand Porks Building
and Developing Company, owners of the Empire building, one of
the finest in the city. He is a member of the Grand Forks Com
mercial Club, Grand Forks Builders' Exchange, Banner Lodge
No. 4, I. 0. 0. F., Grand Forks Lodge No. 9, A. 0. U. W., and the
M. W. A. He is also a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Hunter was married at Crookston, Minn., June 5, 1884, to
Margaret E. Willow, of Thessalon, Ontario, Canada. Of the
children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, Herschel A., Eldred T.,
Sylvan Ann, and Kenneth R. are living, and Alvin is deceased.
Andrew Johnson, who is counted among the prosperous and
progressive citizens of HavA'ley, Minn., has attained his position
by faithful work and strict adherence to conscientious business
methods. He was born in Norway in 1857, and received his education
there, and when twenty years old, in the spring of 1877, emi
grated to this country and settled at Ettrick, Wis. Here he
worked at his trade, that of carpenter and wagon maker, some
two years, and in 1879 removed to Hawley, then a mere hamlet,
and the following year opened a carpenter's shop. Mr. Johnson
worked and prospered and in 1881 associated with himself Mr.
Peter Larson, and under the firm name of Johnson & Larson con-

BIOGRAPHY 1037
ducted a planing mill and lumber business. This relationship
continued till 1886 when the partnership was dissolved. The
following year Mr. Johnson added merchandising to his other
mterests, buying the store of Messrs. Veum & Storaasle.
The business, which then occupied a small building, 24x50 feet,
under Mr. Johnson's able direction, grew and developed into the
present magnificent department store, occupying a building,
erected by Mr. Johnson, 100x75 feet, thoroughly equipped and
being the most complete and up to date store in Clay county.
Besides a full line of dry goods, the house carries light hardware,
furniture, farming implements and harness ; employing a force of
ten experienced men, besides numerous helpers.
Mr. Elbert Johnson, a son of the proprietor, and a young man
of thorough business training, is now (1909) manager of the
business, his father having various other interests to occupy his
attention. As a specialty, the house handles automobiles.
Mr. Johnson, senior, is a practical man of affairs, who takes
an active interest in whatever pertains to the welfare of his com
munity. He is at the present time treasurer of The Hawley
Lumber Company, a director of the First National bank, and also
has an interest in an elevator, which has a capacity of twenty
thousand bushels.
The Johnson block, containing the First National bank and a
fine market on the first floor, a public hall and a temporary music
hall above, was built by him. He is a member of the Masonic
order, in which he has risen to the thirty-second degree.
Fred Johnson is the well known decorator and painter of
Moorhead, who conducts the largest enterprise in this line of any
in the Northwest. He is a hustling business man, ever ready to
assist in any movement for the improvement of his home town
and county, and is considered the most artistic painter and
decorator in the city.
Mr. Johnson is a native of Denmark, born March 6, 1855. He
was educated there in the public schools, and in 1872 he came to
the United States and was a student for some time of the St.
Peter College, at Northfield, Minn. He was employed for some
months, however, previous to this, by the Western Wisconsin
Railroad, at Eau Claire, Wis. In 1874 he went to St. Paul, Minn.,

1038 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
and there learned the painter's trade and continued in that busi
ness until 1879, when he moved to North Dakota and continued in
the same business in Fargo until the year 1881 and then took
up his residence in Moorhead, Minn., and opened the largest
establishment in the city in his line, conducting the business in
both cities, Fargo and Moorhead, on a large scale, and is indeed a
most progressive and substantial citizen.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows; he joined the Northern Light Lodge, in Fargo, in 1881,
and is now a member of the Advance Lodge No. 69, of Moorhead.
In 1882 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Manstrom, of
Fargo. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two children, viz. : Henry
Walter and Minnie Elizabeth.
John F. Johnston, without whose sketch any history of the
Red River valley would be incomplete, was born in Sterlingshire,
Scotland, May 6, 1830, and was the fourth son of a family of six
children born to Dr. Alexander and Marian (Forest) Johnston.
He received a good education in his native land, and when about
twenty-five years of age, crossed over to Ireland, and for nine
teen years devoted himself to farming there. In 1874 he came
to the United States in the interest of M. Howard Gilliat, a
wealthy merchant of London, England, and settled in Elmwood
township, Clay county, Minnesota. While looking after Mr.
Gilliat 's affairs, he pre-empted a claim for himself, and also be
came president of a land company, selling thousands of acres to
pioneer settlers in Clay and Wilkin counties.
Mr. Johnston was a far-sighted and energetic business man,
able and methodical and withal conscientious and honorable in
his dealings. About the year 1880, he purchased a rich tract of
237 acres in section 2, Glynden township, a half mile north of
Glynden, and there made his home. A lover of forestry, he
planted a great variety of shrubbery and thousands of trees and
called the place in memory of his Scottish home, "The Terrace,"
and it was in very truth a home of refinement and culture and
domestic happiness. Here Mr. Johnston lived and labored, a
man of commanding influence in the community and universally
beloved, until 1903, when he passed to his reAvard, mourned by
all who knew him.

BIOGRAPHY" 1039
In 1860 Mr. Johnston married Miss Mary Ann, a daughter of
John Ross and Catherine (Young) MacVicar, who was born in
1836, near the "Bridge of Allan," Scotland, and educated in
Edinburgh. She was a woman of noble qualities, a true help
meet to her husband, cheerfully enduring the privations and
hardships incident to settling on the frontier, and enjoying the
friendship and love of a wide circle of devoted friends.
Mrs. Johnston Avas called to rest in 1891. Of ten children
born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, the first, Marian ; the third, Will
iam; the fifth, Jane H. ; the sixth, and Robert, the eighth, are
deceased. Catherine, their second child, is married to Mr. Foster
Paige and lives at Fargo, N. D. Annie Y., the ninth, and Flora
M., the tenth child, now own and live on the family homestead,
where Alexander, the seventh child, also resides.
Their fourth child, John R. Johnston, was born in Ireland, in
1865. He was reared on his father's farm and received his edu
cation at the Glynden schools. He owns a fine farm near Sabin,
which he received from his father. This farm is in charge of a
tenant, while Mr. Johnston for some twenty years has devoted
much of his time to operating a threshing machine and saw mill.
In 1891 he married Miss Annie R., daughter of John R. and
Annie (Reese) Lewis, who were among the early settlers of Clay
county, being of the 1872 colony, and the father being for many
years county surveyor.
Mr. Johnston is a prominent man in the community. He has
served on the board of supervisors of his township, and is active
in local affairs. He belongs to Lodge 126, Moorhead, of Free and
Accepted Masons, and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen
of America. Julius C. Johnson is a resident of Moorhead, Minn., and a
prosperous and progressive man of affairs. He was born in
Duluth, Minn., on February 24, 1875, and is the son of John and
Carrie Johnson, both natives of Norway. They came to the
United States in the early 60's, and at the breaking out of the
Civil War, Mr. Johnson enlisted and served until the end of the
war. In 1872 they moved to Duluth, and remained there until
March 1, 1882, and moved to Moorhead, where Mr. Johnson has
since been engaged in the contracting business. Mr. and Mrs.

1040 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Johnson are the parents of three children, Julius C. being the
oldest of the family.
He was educated in the public schools of Moorhead, and in the
Concordia College, where he obtained a substantial foundation
for a business career. After finishing school, Mr. Johnson imme
diately secured the position of manager of the Shellbarger Lum
ber Company, and continued in this capacity for three years.
His next employment was with the Valley Lumber Company as
a bookkeeper until 1902, since which time he has been associated
with the Wheeler Land Company.
Mr. Johnson is a Republican in politics, and has served in
various local offices. In 1907 he served as secretary of the Clay
County Republican Committee, was chairman of the same com
mittee in 1908 ; was city assessor and member of the sewer com
mission in 1907, and for the past three years has been a trustee
of the Concordia College. Mr. Johnson was also an active
member of the building committee, when the new main building
was erected, and belongs to the order of Knights of Pythias,
and Modern Brotherhood.
Mr. Johnson is a public-spirited and ambitious young business
man, always interested in the best welfare of his town and county
and the public at large.
James Kennedy, of Fargo, state senator from the Ninth dis
trict, North Dakota, is one of the best known men in the state,
and as a contractor is known all OA7er the United States. He was
born in Ireland, on December 11, 1857, and emigrated with his
parents to America in his early youth. They settled in New
York state, and educated their son, James, in the schools of
Medina county. , On March 17, 1880, he came to Farge, N. D.,
where he has ahvays been prominent in the civic and political
life. He has been a contributor to all worthy causes, and is a man
of quick and generous charity.
Mr. Kennedy's motto all through life has been to keep busy,
and busy he is all the time with important contracts in various
parts of the country, with farming 3,000 acres of land in Cass
and Ransom counties, and with other important business interests
in Fargo. He has done millions of dollars' worth of contract work
in this and other states, and has been one of the largest employers

BIOGRAPHY 1041
in the state. His contract work has extended as far west as Salt
Lake City, where he has completed hundreds of thousands of
dollars' worth of public works.
In addition to being state senator from the Ninth district,
Mr. Kennedy is national chairman from North Dakota for the
Republican party, and was in charge of the last national cam
paign when Taft received a splendid majority in North Dakota.
He enjoys the confidence of Republican leaders all through the
country, as he does of all public men everywhere. His word is as
good as his bond, and his friendships are fast and true.
Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy live in a handsome home on North
Broadway, and theirs is an ideal existence, surrounded by a
happy family of eight children, consisting of five boys and three
girls. Philip Henry Kiefer, a substantial citizen of Barnesville,
Minn., is a native of Milwaukee, Wis., and a son of Philip and
Sally (Honetele) Kiefer. His father was a pioneer settler of
Milwaukee and helped to clear the site of that city of timber, in
the early days. He was a prosperous farmer, and lived on his
farm in Wisconsin till 1863, when he removed to a farm in Henne
pin county, Minn.
Philip Henry, who is one of a family of eleven children, grew
to manhood on his father's farm, and gained his education in the
public schools, being ten years old when the family settled in
Hennepin county. After leaving school he learned the carpenter's
trade and worked at it for a number of years in early life. A
desire to better his condition and perhaps a longing for ad
venture, led him to go to Montana, February 10, 1876, where he
spent some eight years, teaming and freighting, the first year
being in the employ of the government, and during this time he
had some thrilling experiences, being with General Nelson A.
Miles at the time of the capture of the Nez Perces Indians.
In November, 1883, Mr. Kiefer returned to Minnesota and
spent six years at Moorhead, and in 1889 settled at Barnesville
and established himself in the hardware trade, to which he has
devoted his attention ever since with marked success.
At the time of his arrival in Barnesville, it had much the ap
pearance of a frontier town, his store occupying the only building

1042 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
on his side of the street. But the town grew rapidly, and in 1899,
Mr. Kiefer erected his present commodious and modern building,
the main store being 25x80 feet, with a warehouse 20x40 feet,
one story in height. Besides a full line of hardware, paints and
oils, he carries a general line of stoves, and in fact, everything
to be found in an up to date hardware establishment.
Mr. Kiefer is independent in politics, but has taken no active
part in political affairs, more than to perform his duty as a good
citizen. In 1890 married Miss Catherine Mulcahey, and they are
members of the Assumption Catholic Church, of Barnesville, of
whieh he has been a trustee.
Mr. Kiefer owns, besides his store building and home, other
property in BarnesviUe, and is counted one of her thrifty, pros
perous and public spirited men.
He belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters, at BarnesviUe,
and is also a member of the Knights of Columbus at Fargo.
Elling Klemmetson, who owns a fine farm in section 2, Ulen
township, containing 160 acres, nearly all under cultivation, came
to Clay county, Minnesota, on March 1, 1880. He is the brother
of Mr. Helge Klemmetson, another prosperous farmer of Ulen
township, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this history. He
was born in Lunner Ringereg, Norway, on May 13, 1861, and
when but a boy, came with his mother and six other children, to
America, taking four weeks to make the trip; his father having
previously passed away, leaving his mother a widow with seven
small children. They first settled in Spring Grove, Houston
county, Minnesota, where the mother toiled to rear her family
and endured the extreme privations known to pioneer life, until
her children reached the age where they were able to share her
labors. They lived in Houston county for five years, and then
moved to Clay county, succeeding Mr. Helge Klemmetson, who
settled in Ulen township the previous year. Here our subject
took up his homestead in section 2, built a log house and broke
the land with oxen. He now has a fine residence, with com
modious barns, granaries and other out-buildings to correspond,
and ranks among the most prosperous and progressive citizens
of the county. His farm is well stocked and his water is pumped

BIOGRAPHY 1043
by the force of a good windmill, and in short, his is a beautiful
country home, up to date in every respect and quite superior to
hia home of earlier days. He was married in 1885 to Miss Segre
Sevorson, who is also a native of Norway, born December 1,
1861. Mr. and Mrs. Klemmetson have a happy family of ten children,
viz.: Carl S., Christina, Henry, Carolina, Oscar E., Edward,
Anita, Bertha E., Inga and Mada.
Mr. Klemmetson has always been a strong supporter of the
principles of the Republican party, public-spirited and always
willing to aid in any movement for the betterment of his town
and county. He has served for several years on the school board
as treasurer, and the family are members of the Lutheran Church,
of Ulen township.
Helge Klemmetson. — One of the best improved farms in Clay
county is that of Mr. Helge Klemmetson, located in section 22,
Ulen township, two miles north and east of the village, which has
been brought from the state of wilderness to a beautiful country
home, well ditched, and protected by a fine grove against winter,
and serves as a park in summer. The farm contains 200 acres
of highly cultivated land, and is well stocked with the best breed
of cattle, horses, hogs, etc., and is valued at $100.00 per acre.
This farm, with fifty acres for meadow and pasture, must be seen
to be appreciated, and represents the faithful and tireless efforts
of both Mr. and Mrs. Klemmetson, who for many years toiled
together in the hope of bringing about their present comfortable
circumstances. Mr. Klemmetson is the present treasurer of Ulen township,
and has held this office since 1901. He was born in Lunner
Ringereg, Norway, on February 24, 1854. His parents were
Klemmet and Christi (Halverson) Helgeson. His father died in
Norway, leaving his mother a widow with a family of seven
small children, and in the humblest of circumstances. Mrs.
Helgeson was a lady of thrift and ambition, and decided that her
only chance to rear her family under her own care, was to bring
them to America, and accordingly, in 1875, she started on a
steamship for Houston county, Minnesota, which took four weeks,
including boat and rail, to reach her destination. She settled in

1044 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Spring Grove township, where for five years she struggled for a
livelihood for herself and little ones, and endured the extreme
privation known to pioneer life. Her children, however, attended
the district schools, and as soon as they were large enough, the
older ones began to share her labors, and thus life became easier
for her. In the year of 1883, her daughter, Ingeborg, married
Mr. Lars 0. Hitterdal, whose sketch may be found in this volume,
also that of her son, Elling, brother of our subject. In 1880 they
moved to Clay county, and settled in Ulen township. Helge
Klemmetson went to Winneshieck county, Iowa, in 1878, and
located on a farm which he rented for about one year. In 1879,
being interested in the favorable reports from Clay county, he
decided to make that his next venture. He was married in Spring
Grove, in 1875, to Miss Gor Olson, who was born in Nas Halling-
dal, Norway, June 25, 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Klemmetson had a
family of nine children, of which three are dead. Those living are
Christina, Helmer, Olaf, Sarah, Bella and Gyda. In 1879 the
family arrived in the new country with an ox team, and located
at the Gilbertson place. Mr. Klemmetson immediately took up
his homestead in section 22, and set to work to build a log house,
and improve his farm. This house was 12x13 and afforded the
usual comforts of a log cabin, and here they lived for several
years. One cow and the team of oxen were the principal hold
ings of Mr. Klemmetson outside of his farm, and together he and
his faithful wife, toiled for the comforts they are enjoying to-day.
Their children were born in the log cabin, and attended the dis
trict schools. In 1895, Mr. Klemmetson erected his present
modern residence 16x26, with a later additional room 14x14. In
1900 he erected a fine large barn, and his granary and other out
buildings correspond, and his home is considered among the best
in this part of the Red River valley. Mr. Klemmetson was the
second settler to locate in his portion of the township, and one
year later his brother, Elling, located in section 2. Mr. Klem
metson has sisters and brothers living as follows : Elling,
Andrew, Mrs. John Groten, Mrs. Lars O. Hitterdal, Mrs. Ole
Erickson and Mrs. Lars Moebeck.
Mr. and Mrs. Klemmetson and family are members of the

BIOGRAPHY 1045
Synod Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Klemmetson is the efficient
secretary; began in office November 9, 1887, was re-elected in
November, 1892, and still holds the office.
Oliver Knudson, a prominent business man and farmer of
Michigan City, N. D., first engaged in the grain business here
in 1884, and has since continued, and in addition, owns and con
ducts a number of farms, both in this state and in Minnesota.
Mr. Knudson was born August 9, 1861, at Rushford, Fillmore
county, Minnesota, and was educated at Granite Falls, in that
state. Oliver left home shortly after reaching his majority, and
in 1885 he married Miss Diana Rodline, of Canton, Minn., and
they have two children.
In politics Mr. Knudson is a strong Democrat, and has served
in various official capacities. In 1907, he was appointed state
examiner, by Governor Burke, and served four years as sheriff of
Nelson county. He was a member of the State Democratic Cen
tral Committee, and was a nominee of his party for railroad com
missioner, and has been an active worker in Democratic ranks for
many years, and is considered one of the most influential men
in the county. Mr. Knudson also has a line of elevators on the
Soo road, which are operated under his supervision, and his
farms in North Dakota and Minnesota are among the best in the
valley. Oscar C. G. Knudson, who is counted among the wide awake,
and successful business men of Grand Forks, N. D., is a native
of Faribault, Minn., and was born October 17, 1872, and
is a son of A. Knudson. He acquired a good English edu
cation in the public schools of Grand Forks, and after finishing
his schooling was for a number of years variously employed.
On May 1, 1902, he took the position of clerk in the Columbia
Hotel, at Grand Forks, under the efficient and successful pro
prietorship and management of his father, and has filled that
office continuously and ably to the present time, 1909.
Mr. Knudson is popular in the social life of his city, and takes
an interest in various fraternal and benevolent organizations,
being actively identified with the Elks, the Ancient Order of
United Workmen, and Knights of Pythias.

1046 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
November, 1900, he married Miss Louise Torguson, of Alma,
Wis., whose womanly traits and accomplishments make her a
social favorite among her many friends.
Judson LaMoure, the only member of the state senate who
has served continuously since statehood, was born in the village
of Frelighsburgh, County of Missisquoi, Province of Quebec,
Canada, March 27, 1839. He was educated in the common schools
of his town and attended two terms in the Frelighsburgh
Academy. On March 2, 1859, at the age of twenty, Mr. LaMoure left his
home and went to Davenport, Iowa, where he obtained employ
ment and remained for a few months, and in the spring of 1860
he embarked for Pike's Peak, during the gold excitement, but
remained only until the fall of that year, and then went to South
Dakota, and settled in Union county. His principal occupation
during the next ten years in South Dakota was farming, but in
the meantime he entered the employment of H. D. Booge & Co.,
in the transportation business, with headquarters in Sioux City,
Iowa. He worked for this company until 1865, at which time he
was appointed sub-agent of the Lower Brule Indians, located at
the mouth of White Earth river. Five years later he moved to
Pembina, where he again engaged in farming until 1872, and was
then elected to the territorial legislature.
Mr. LaMoure was married on December 3, 1874, to Miss
Minnie Nelson, and they had a family of six children, three of
whom are deceased. In 1876, he was elected to the territorial
council, and two years later engaged in the mercantile business
at Pembina, which he later transferred to Neche, N. D., and is
still being conducted under the firm name of J. LaMoure & Co.
In 1880, he was re-elected to the legislative assembly, and re
elected to the territorial council in 1884. In 1889, he was elected
to the first state legislature, as senator from the First district,
to which office he has been re-elected, at each succeeding four
years, to the present time.
Mr. LaMoure is indeed, and has been for many years, the
leading man of affairs in his community, and to his wise judg
ment and faithful efforts may justly be credited much of the
growth and development of North Dakota, and no man more thor-

BIOGRAPHY 1047
oughly understands its financial condition than Senator LaMoure.
He has given the finances of the state so much deep thought and
study, that his is the master mind when it comes to this im
portant department of state. His political views are broad and
liberal, and his good deads and charitable acts are multitudinous.
He is a keen observer of legislative proceedings, a guardian of the
state's finances, and what he has to say on the floor of the senate
is terse and readily comprehended. He has been chairman of Re
publican State Conventions, and for years has occupied a prom
inent seat in the councils of his party, and has been one of the
greatest factors in the state in shaping the policy of his party.
George N. Lamphere, journalist, was born in Mystic, Conn.,
August 23, 1845; served in the Sixteenth Connecticut Regiment
during the Civil War ; was later employed in government depart
ments, in Washington, D. C, until 1882; then settled at Moor
head, Minn., and there owned and published the daily and weekly
"News," after 1883.
He is author of a book, "The United States Government,"
published in 1882; he was director and treasurer of the State
Normal School Board, Moorhead, 1891-92 ; he was a commissioner
of the World's Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago, in 1893,
and was secretary of the board of trustees of the Minnesota
Soldiers' Home, from 1900 to 1907, residing at St. Paul, during
this time.
He removed in the last named year (1907) to Palouse, Wash
ington, where his son, George N. Lamphere, Jr., resides.
Arthur Bernette Landt, cashier of the First National bank,
Northwood, N. D., is a native of Wisconsin, and was born on
January 26, 1870, at Big Springs. His parents were S. S. Landt
and Margaret A. Landt, they being of German and English
descent, respectively.
Mr. Landt of this sketch acquired his education at the high
school, at Friendship, Wis., and engaged in the banking business
in 1890. Pie removed to North Dakota, August 13, 1891, and was
with the First National Bank of Hillsboro, until October, 1901,
when he removed to Northwood, and entered the First National
bank as cashier, which position he still retains.

1048 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Mr. Landt was married on June 1, 1893, at Friendship, Wis.,
to Miss Gertrude Gunning. The birth of two daughters, Dorothy
E. and Margaret W., has blessed their union.
Newel Green Larimore, of Larimore, was born August 29,
1835, in Bourbon county, Kentucky. His father was Wilson L.
Larimore, and his mother, Harriet Berry Larimore. His father's
great grandfather came to Kentucky from the eastern shore of
Maryland. Early ancestors on his father's side were Huguenots,
in Prance. Ancestors of his mother came from England to Amer
ica in the Mayflower.
The subject of the sketch was reared on a farm in St. Louis
county, Missouri, and later attended and graduated from the
Wyinans High School, in St. Louis. When but twenty years of
age he was married, September 2, 1855, to Miss Susan Ashbrook.
Two sons, Walter L. and Clay, blessed this union. His first wife
died July 25, 1862. Mr. Larimore was married again on April
4, 1867, to Miss Mollie E. Jameson, a niece of his first wife, making
Walter and Clay cousins of their stepmother. One son, Jameson,
and one daughter, Cora, were born to them.
At the close of the Civil War Mr. Larimore and brother or
ganized the St. Louis Warehouse Company, which erected a
building covering an entire block. On its completion, the use of
the warehouse was donated for two months to the ladies, to hold
Southern Relief Fair, through which about $60,000 were realized
and turned over to the proper authorities, for the relief of those
made destitute by the war.
In 1870 the Central Elevator Company was organized in St.
Louis by Mr. Larimore. Several large elevators were built, and
the company continued handling grain until 1885. In 1873 the
first telephone line in St. Louis was built, to connect the com
pany's office and three of its elevators, and was about one mile in
length. During the early seventies the city of St. Louis was controlled
by a ring of grafters. The citizens held a mass meeting, and de
manded that the board of trade select seven men to be elected at
large, for the upper house of the city council, for four years. The
demand was acceded to, and Mr. Larimore Avas one of the mem
bers elected. During that four years, contracts for granite street

BIOGRAPHY 1049
paving were let, which required ten years to complete and
grafting was barred for at least ten years. Mr. Larimore was a
charter member of the St. Louis Club, the first and still the most
exclusive in St. Louis. He was also a charter member of the
Veiled Prophets, a rival of the New Orleans Mardi-Gras. In 1879
he went to Paris to order the costumes for the order.
In 1880 Mr. Larimore, with others, organized the Elk Valley
Farming Company, which began farming operations in Grand
Porks county in 1881, and which has developed one of the largest
and most successful farming enterprises in the country, compris
ing about 12,000 acres of cultivated land adjacent to the city
of Larimore. Mr. Larimore was president of the board of trustees of the
University of North Dakota under Governor Shortridge. He has
been one of the trustees of the Red River Valley University, and
Wesley College, since its organization. For about eight years
he was president of the North Dakota Chautauqua Association.
He has been for about five years a member of the National Irri
gation Association, and is local vice-president of the American
Sunday School Union. He has been a member of the Trans-
Mississippi Commercial Congress since its organization, and vice-
president for twelve years. The object of this organization is
largely to induce congress in making appropriations for internal
improvements, to recognize the fact that the trans-Mississippi
country is on the map, and part of the United States. Prior to
the organization of the Trans-Mississippi Congress the section
of the country east of the Mississippi river had absorbed all of
the appropriations for internal improvements. For years little
attention was given the congress, but more recently requests of
this body of business men have received respectful attention.
The organization pushed through congress the opening of Gal
veston harbor, and the improvement of the mouth of the Missis
sippi river, affording an outlet for the grain of Kansas, Nebraska,
and the Southwest ; also for the cotton of the South, relieving the
congestion of the railroads east of the Mississippi river, thus
preventing a continued advance in rates.
Robert S. Lewis, lieutenant governor of North Dakota, and vice-
president of the State National bank, Fargo, is one of the few men

1050 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
under adverse circumstances in life who has risen by his own
perseverance from poverty and obscurity to wealth and social
prominence. The "North Dakota Magazine" says he has risen
to prominence by attending to his own affairs and practicing
strictest honesty of word and deed.
He was born in Tennessee August 15, 1856. His parents were
Josiah and Mary (Steele) Lewis, the former a native of Massa
chusetts and the latter of Louisiana. His father was a college
professor and was connected with the state female seminary. He,
with his parents, removed to Minnesota in 1868, where his father
was county superintendent of schools of Wright county for many
years. Both parents died in Minnesota.
Robert S. Lewis was reared and educated in Minnesota and
began his career as a clerk in Minneapohs, which occupation he
followed one year, and in 1882 went to Fargo, where he entered
the employ of the Red River National bank as clerk. He held
this position a year and a half and was then made teUer, which
position he held two years, after which he was promoted to the
position of assistant cashier and in 1891 was made cashier. He
held this position until 1897 and was then elected vice-president
and held that office until 1902, when he was chosen president of
that institution. He was director of this bank when it liquidated
and its assets merged with those of the First National bank, in
which latter institution he is now a director.
Lieutenant Governor Lewis was married in Minnesota in
1879 to Miss Alice Carpenter, a native of that state. Three
children have been born to Governor and Mrs. Lewis as follows:
Roy C, who graduated from the academic department of Colum
bia University in 1905 and will complete a law course in June,
1906 ; Olive M. and Alice.
He has been active in educational matters and served as pres
ident of the board of education and on the board of directors of
the Agricultural College. He is a member of various fraternal
orders, among them being the Knights of Pythias, and has passed
the 32nd and Scottish-rite degrees of the Masonic order. Polit
ically he is a Republican and takes an active interest in all public
matters. Was a member of the state convention several times.
He was elected a member of the state senate in 1900 and was an

BIOGRAPHY 1051
efficient and active member of that body for four years. He
proved himself to be a most valuable member and was the author of
a number of important measures, which afterward became laws
of the state.
He is one of those men who is interested in the advancement
of everything that wiU be beneficial to his city and the state in
which he resides. That he is one of the prominent financial busi
ness men of the city is evidenced by the fact that he is president
of the Fargo Commercial Club and is now serving his second
term. He is the owner and operator of over 7,000 acres of land,
being one of the leading farmers of the northwest territory. In
1906 he was nominated and elected lieutenant governor, a position
which he is eminently qualified to fill, and since his inauguration
has merited the confidence in which he is held by his associates,
and has won the esteem of all members of the senate, the body
over which he presides.
Hon. Martin Victor Linwell, one of the members of the North
Dakota Constitutional Convention and for six years mayor of
Northwood, was born in Rush City, Minn., on April 2, 1857. He
is the son of John and Anna Linwell and he was raised a farmer.
His parents emigrated from Sweden to this country in 1848. Mr.
Linwell obtained an Academic education in Gustavus Adolphus
College, St. Peter, Minneapolis, and St. Croix Valley Academy,
Aston, Minn. He began life for himself at the age of thirteen
years without resources and in 1880 he arrived in Fargo with
$10.00. In 1881 he opened up a loan and land office at MayviUe,
and in 1883 an office for the same business at Larimore. In
1887 he was admitted to the North Dakota bar and practiced his
profession at Northwood until 1891. During that same year Mr.
Linwell began the banking business at Northwood, and subse
quently at Aneta and Ray, N. D., promoting the Northwood Trust
and Safety bank, the Aneta State bank, and Linwell's State bank
at Ray, N. D.
Mr. Linwell began the retail lumber business at Northwood
after 1893 and opened up a line of yards west of Minot since that
time. He was also the promoter of the Farmers' Elevator Com
pany at Northwood, and became interested in other elevators in
the state. He has been an extensive operator of farms near

1052 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Northwood, including the stock farm of Hereford cattle, of which
fifty are registered. Mr. Linwell is also president of the Linwell
Hardware and Lumber Company, Ray, N. D., also of the M. V.
Linwell Lumber Company, Palermo, N. D. He organized a com
pany which was incorporated for $75,000.00 paid up capital, of
which he was the principle stockholder, for the purpose of operat
ing a wholesale and retail department store at Ray, N. D. This
company opened for business, November 2, 1908. In 1886 Mr.
Linwell was married to Anna Paulson, daughter of the late
Henry Paulson, Hillsboro, N. D. The children born to this mar
riage are Wendell H., a graduate of the University of North
Dakota, 1908; Emmons V. and Delia H.
Mr. Linwell has always been much interested in the welfare
of his adopted town. He was one of the first aldermen of the
city and served as mayor six years. He has always been inter
ested in the public questions of the day, has extended aid on
several occasions to the Northwood City Schools, and has served
as chairman of the school board for several terms.
Benjamin F. Mackall is a prominent citizen of Moorhead,
having been engaged in the drug business here since the pioneer
days of the early seventies. Beginning a business partnership in
1873, he continued this connection under the firm name of John
Kurtz until 1875, when the firm name became Kurtz & Mackall.
The business was conducted under this head until 1880, when
Mr. Mackall assumed entire control, becoming the leading
pharmacist of Moorhead, a distinction which he still retains.
His store was originally a small establishment situated at the
corner of Fourth Street and First Avenue north, where the Euro
pean Hotel is now located. In 1874 Dr. Kurtz erected a brick
building on Fouth Street — the first brick building in Moorhead —
where the business was carried on until 1883. From that date to
1890 Mr. Mackall occupied a store in the Mason block, corner of
Front and Fifth Streets; he then erected and moved into the
brick building where he is now located.
Except for an interval of three years between 1886 and 1889,
when he was conducting business interests in Duluth, Mr.
Mackall has been a continuous resident of Moorhead, zealously
furthering its commercial, social and religious life.

BIOGRAPHY 1053
He has served his community in various civic capacities. Pie
was the first treasurer of the village of Moorhead; he served as
auditor and treasurer of Clay county for a number of years ; he
was postmaster from 1884 to 1886 (when he resigned to go to
Duluth) ; he has often been a delegate to important political and
ecclesiastical conventions, and is now (1909) serving as vice-
president of the Commercial Club.
In religious matters he has been a constructive leader. He is
senior warden of St. John's Episcopal Church, and has been a lay
reader in that parish and in Gethsemene Parish, Fargo, since
their foundation. Indeed, he has not only been a constant friend
and liberal supporter of both churches, but was practically their
founder. Socially Mr. Mackall occupies a unique position in the com
munity. A man of refined tastes and cultured antecedents, he
exemplifies the polite graces of a gentleman of the old school;
and his home has always been distinguished for its liberal
hospitality. Very briefly the chief events in Mr. Mackall 's life may be
sketched as follows : He was born at Wilna, near Elkton, Md.,
October 9, 1851. He was educated in the private schools of Elk-
ton, and at the Elkton and West Nottingham Academies ; and re
ceived his college training at Georgetown College, Georgetown,
D. C. On February 13, 1884, he was married in Philadelphia, Pa.,
to Miss Mary H. Kurtz, daughter of Colonel John D. Kurtz, of the
United States Engineering Corps. Mrs. Mackall died on January
27, 1902. One child, Henry Clinton, was born to Mr. and Mrs.
Mackall on February 18, 1885.
One of the pioneer settlers of the Red River valley, a man of
solid business integrity, educated, polished and high-minded, Mr.
Mackall has been a positive force in moulding the institutions of
the community in which he lives.
Edward J. Madison, of the Moorhead Plumbing and Heating
Company, has been in business here since 1907, and is one of the
popular young business men of the city.
Mr. Madison was born in Chicago, 111., October 6, 1876, the son
of Johnson and Ellen Madison, also born in Illinois, and died
when their son, Edward, was an infant, leaving a family of four,

1054 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
our subject being the youngest, only six months old. His father
was drowned while employed on a government boat — man-of-war,
operating on Lake Michigan, and the mother died soon after
ward. Edward was cared for by relatives until he was large
enough to be placed in a training school, and was taken to Glen-
wood, 111., where he remained until he was adopted by Mr. C. E.
Hull, who took him to Huron, S. D. Here he remained until
1888 with Mr. Hull, and then decided to become his own support
and embarked for Fargo, N. D., where he engaged in the butcher
business and followed it until 1903. In the fall of that year, he
went into the plumbing and heating business which he followed
for several years and then took a position as fireman for the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company ; but in June, 1907, he moved
to Moorhead, Minn., where he has since been engaged in the
plumbing and heating business, and is considered a prosperous
and substantial citizen of that city.
Mr. Madison is a member of the Independent Order of Forest
ers, having been connected with the order for thirteen years, and
also belongs to the Society of Eagles. He was a member of the
volunteer fire department while in Fargo, N. D.
In 1891 Mr. Madison experienced the most important event of
his life, of being found after being lost in a blizzard in Harwood,
N. D. After some wandering and nearly freezing to death, he
finally made his way to a house and thus recovered himself. In
the meantime, the local papers reported him frozen to death.
On May 10, 1903, he was married to Miss Reginald Syverson,
daughter of Ole Syverson, of Ulen, Minn.
Charles S. Marden, lawyer, Barnesville, Clay county, Minne
sota. He was born October 2, 1864, at Randolph, Vt., son of Riley
H. Marden and Emily (Clifford) Marden. His father was born
in 1832 and served through the Civil War in the Fourth and
Ninth Vermont Regiments. He moved to Fergus Falls, Minn.,
in 1882, where he continued his law practice. He died July 22,
1900. Charles S. Marden was educated in the public schools and at
Benton's Academy, in Bristol, Vt. In 1882 he moved to Fergus
Falls, Minn., and engaged in school teaching. In 1887 he was
admitted to the bar and practiced law at Elizabeth, Minn., until

BIOGRAPHY 1055
June, 1891, AA7hen he moved to Barnesville, Minn., where he now
resides. Mr. Marden was elected county attorney of Clay county,
Minnesota, in 1900 and served until January 1, 1907. He was
married January 2, 1886, to Elise E. Cayo, of Alma Center, Wis.
They have two children — Irene E. and Edith J. Mr. Marden is
a member of the Masonic Order Blue Lodge, at Barnesville, Chap
ter and Commandery at Fergus Falls, and Osman Temple at St.
Paul. He is also a member of the Elks, at Fargo, N. D., and
Knights of Pythias at Barnesville, Minn., and of the Society of
Sons of the American Revolution.
James Henry Mathews was born October 10, 1846, at Wood-
grange, county Down, Ireland; came to the city of New York
with his parents when a little more than a year old. His father 's
name was Hugh Henry Mathews, by occupation a carpenter. His
mother was Scotch. Her name was Jane Sturgeon and she was
a lineal descendant of the old Scotch Montgomery family.
His grandfather served under the Duke of Wellington and
was wounded at the battle of Waterloo. His father served in the
Ninety-eighth New York Regiment during the Civil War.
He attended school at Newburgh, N. Y., until he was eleven
years of age, and after the panic of 1857 he left home and worked
in a store for fifty cents per week and his board for about seven
months, when he hired for twenty-five dollars per year and three
months' schooling, and fifty dollars the second year without any
schooling. In 1862, when fifteen years of age, he enlisted in the Third
New York Infantry, but was stopped by his father from going to
the front, after which he again enlisted in the Thirty-sixth New
York and was again stopped by his father on account of being too
young. Shortly afterwards his father enlisted in the Ninety-
eighth New York Regiment, and James H. Mathews again enlisted
in the Seventh New York Independent Battery, in which company
he served two years and seven months, participating in several
different engagements with the Army of the Potomac and the
Army of the James, being slightly wounded twice. Received his
discharge on the 26th day of July, 1865, and engaged in the retail
meat business for himself the following September. In 1867 he
formed a partnership with J. A. Sneed and engaged in the whole-

1056 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
sale butcher business under the firm name of Mathews and Sneed,
retaining the retail business, which he carried on until 1870, at
whieh time he sold out his business at Newburgh, both retaU and
wholesale, and moved to West Point, where the United States
Military Academy is located, taking a contract with the govern
ment to furnish the post with the supplies used by the troops. He
remained there for two years and returned to Newburgh, N. Y.,
where he engaged in the wholesale smoked meat and provision
business, forming a partnership with Edgar C. Barnes, of New
burgh, N. Y., under the firm name of Mathers and Barnes. This
business was carried on under that name until 1883, when, his
health giving out, he sold his interest in the business.
In September, 1878, having read considerable about the Red
River valley he came to Grand Porks, where he became inter
ested in some Grand Forks real estate and some farm lands, spend
ing a part of each year thereafter in Dakota and part in New
York, until 1883, when he sold his interests in New York and in
1884 moved Avith his family to Larimore, N. D., where he now re
sides, and opened up a bonanza farm which at one time contained
7,000 acres, but has since been reduced until he now has in the
neighborhood of 4,000 acres.
In 1889 he was a member of the constitutional convention
which formulated the constitution for the state of North Dakota,
and has since always taken an active interest in polities in the
interest of friends, but never would accept any office for himself.
He was married in 1870 to Mary Elizabeth Taylor, at Cornwall,
N. Y., on June 8, to whom five children were born : Lizzie Jane,
Maud Inez, Josephine Coldwell, Edgar Carlisle and Sadie P.
Josephine died when about eight months old, Edgar Carlisle was
kdled when eight years old, in May, 1888, by being kicked by a
horse. Lizzie Mathews married Walter L. Larimore, the eldest son of
N. G. Larimore, of Larimore, N. D. Maud and Sadie still reside
at home on the farm.
Mr. MatheAvs belongs to the Masonic, Odd Fellows, G. A. R.
and several other orders. Is a member of the Hudson River Com-
mandery, of Newburgh, N. Y. ; Elzagle Temple, Fargo, N. D. ; the
Highland Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 65, of Newburgh, N. Y.

BIOGRAPHY 1057
He has been engaged extensively in the land and loan business
since he first settled in North Dakota. Plas been a director in
the Elk Valley Bank of Larimore, N. D., since its organization
under the state banking laws, and is manager of the farm loan
department of the bank. He is the owner of the New York farm,
consisting of about 4,000 acres, which he manages himself, and
several other farms which he rents out. Is president of the Pem
bina Coal Company, Ltd., the mines being located on the Pembina
river, near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; vice president of the Elk
Valley Land & Colonization Company, vice president of the Pio
neer Life Insurance Company, of Fargo, N. D. ; has been a stock
holder in the Northwestern Fire & Marine Insurance Company,
formerly of Grand Porks, but now of Minneapolis, and was one
of the executive officers during the first two years of the com
pany's existence. He has been a stockholder in the First Na
tional Bank of Grand Forks since 1882. He is a member of the
firms of Larimore, Mathews & Stonehouse, J. PI. Pifer & Co., and
with J. E. Burchard and A. Stonehouse is interested in about
15,000 acres of land in the Saskatchewan Valley, Canada. He has
been interested extensively in stock, growing both horses and cat
tle, ever since he took up his residence in North Dakota. Is now
extensively engaged in the real estate business, having an office
in St. Paul and one in Larimore, N. D.
Arthur Augustus McCartan is a prominent real estate dealer
and land owner of Barnesville, Minn. He was born in Dubuque
county, Iowa, October 3, 1868, to Bernard and Mary (McNamara)
McCartan, the former a native of Ireland, born in 1826, and the
latter a native of Buffalo, N. Y. The father came to this country
in 1845, and settled in Dubuque county, Iowa, and was married
there in 1849, the mother having removed thither when a child of
two years. He was for many years overseer of a lead mine ; that
metal being found in abundance in and about that section and
many acquiring wealth from mining it on their farms. The fam
ily removed from Dubuque county to Pocahontas county, Iowa,
in 1870, where the father held numerous local offices, being chair
man of the county commissioners, school treasurer, etc.
He was always prominent in his community, and was a man
of wide influence. His house was the meeting place for religious

1058 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
worship before a church building was erected, and the priest came
from Ft. Dodge to say mass there. He had thirteen children, of
whom six sons and four daughters are living and well to do. His
death occurred in 1887.
Our subject grew up on his father's farm and attended the
common schools and the high school at Fonda, receiving a good
English education. On attaining his manhood, he continued
farming and also for some years dealt extensively raising and
buying and selling stock, and was well known as a wideawake,
practical and prosperous farmer. In 1900 Mr. McCartan disposed
of his interests in Iowa and, removing to Barnesville, Clay county,
Minn., engaged in the real estate business.
The change proved a great benefit to him, both from a stand
point of health and in a business way. He was at first employed
in the real estate office of W. T. Meagher, whose interests in the
business he purchased in 1892. He was also associated with
Messrs. Horton and Whittlesey, and while in the employ of others
carried through numerous speculative deals of his own in Dakota
lands. Mr. McCartan now owns some 1,500 acres of land in Wilkin,
Norman and Clay counties. One farm of 240 acres, which cost
him $4,800 in 1903, is now (1909) valued at fifty dollars per acre.
It is a beautifully located farm, five miles out on the principal
road running to Barnesville, with a rich, productive soil, espe
cially adapted to the raising of cereals, and being improved with
a comfortable house of six rooms, Avith outbuildings, including a
granary with a capacity of six thousand bushels.
His prairie lands near Rosseau, in Norman county and in Clay
county readily sell for twenty dollars per acre, and are rapidly
increasing in value.
Mr. McCartan 's firm makes a specialty of handling lands and
farms for non-resident owners, and through his businesslike
methods and the success that has come to him since settling in
Barnesville, he has come to be known as one of the best posted
and most competent real estate men in his section.
Robert H. McCoy, of Grand Forks, was born January 7, 1859,
in Green county, Wisconsin. His father, James McCoy, was a
native of Scotland and a farmer by occupation. His mother, Mar-

BIOGRAPHY 1059
grete McCoy, was a native of the north of Ireland. Mr. McCoy 's
early life was that of other farmer lads. He received his early
education at Madison, Wis. He entered a business career early
in life and was for years identified with the great timber indus
tries of his native state, which he learned from A to Z. He came
to North Dakota in May, 1879, locating in Grand Forks. Here he
organized the Grand Porks Lumber Company and has ever since
been the president and active manager of this the largest indus
trial enterprise of the Northwest. He is a man of large executive
ability and the enterprise under his guidance has been a signal
success and has been an important factor in the development of
the Northwest. The company gives employment to several hun
dred men and has an output of several hundred thousand dollars '
worth of products annually. Mr. McCoy is also interested in the
Bonners' Ferry Lumber Company, of Bonners' Ferry, Ida., and
has other extensive interests here and elsewhere.
Mr. McCoy was married, in St. Paul, May 15, 1886, to Caddie
E. Scribner. Two sons have been born to them, Lawrence' R. and
Harold J. McCoy.
Aaron McDonald. — The McDonald family is an old one and
well known throughout the state of North Dakota. Aaron Mc
Donald, now a resident of Fargo, was born April 17, 1853, in Cass
county, Michigan, but he has lived in the valley during the past
thirty years. He is the son of William McDonald and Catherine
Wagner. His mother was born in Germany and came to this
country when thirteen years of age. She died in 1906. William
McDonald moved from Pennsylvania to Michigan, where he fol
lowed agricultural pursuits in Cass county till his death in 1862.
Aaron McDonald has always been a farmer. He came to
Fargo, April 2, 1879, but four years afterwards moved to Sheldon,
this state, and lived there until 1907, when he returned to Fargo.
He ran for sheriff at one time, coming within fifty-three votes of
being elected to the office, but aside from that venture he has
never taken any part in politics but to vote the Democratic ticket.
April 8, 1875, Mr. McDonald was married to Miss Martha E.
Brady. They have four children. Their names are Clarence
Leroy, Guy, Fred and Frank, and all are married except the old-

1060 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY
est. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald are members of the Presbyterian
church. Donald McDonald. — The subject of this sketch is of Scotch
descent. His parents, Duncan McDonald and Janet Mcintosh,
both being from the Highlands. They emigrated to Canada in
early life. Donald was born in that country in 1850. The follow
ing year the family removed to Dubuque county, Iowa, where they
engaged in the farming and milling business. The father died
in 1858, and in 1863 the mother with the family moved to Butler
county in the same state. Mr. McDonald 's early years were spent
in this section. In 1873, imbued with the same spirit as most
Avestern boys, he went to South Dakota, spending a few years
there, and in 1878 came to Grand Forks, where he has since re
sided. He was married in Iowa in 1876 to Addie Leete, whose
death occurred in September, 1904. He has two sons, Dr. A. L.
McDonald, of the University, and Bruce, aged sixteen, a student
in the high school.
Shortly after coming to Grand Forks, Mr. McDonald bought
from George H. Walsh the only newspaper then in the north half
of the state, the Grand Forks "Plaindealer." This he success
fully published for two years, when he sold it. In April, 1879,
he was appointed postmaster, holding the office until June, 1888.
During his term the postoffice grew from a fourth to a second-
class, and he had the novel experience of having received mail
by all of the well known methods of carriage, dog train, horse
back, stage coach, steamboat and railway. At first the mail, that
is the mail from and to the East, was carried by stage on the old
Fargo-Pembina route. At this day it. seems like a long journey
to Fargo by team, but the old Blakely-Carpenter Company, and
later the Gilmer-Salisbury people, used to make the distance in
fifteen hours, so that we were only about twelve hours farther
from the Twin Cities than we are now. The St. Paul, Minneapolis
& Manitoba Railway, built to the east side of the river in the fall
of 1879, and railway mail service began on December 1 of that
year. Mail was however carried along the old stage route until
1882, when the building of the lines of railroad on the west side
of the Red river made the star route service no longer necessary.
In October, 1879, the late Senator W. N. Roach opened up the

DONALD MCDONALD

BIOGRAPHY 1061
route between this city and Fort Totten. The following winter,
1879-80, was one of the most severe in the history of the country,
and Mr. Roach was obliged to resort to every thing possible in
order to get the mail through, and tried all of the frontier meth
ods, and was successful in keeping the route open.
The postoffice became presidential in 1880, and Mr. McDonald
was commissioned by President Hayes and later in 1884 by Presi
dent Arthur. After retiring from the postoffice, he engaged in
business in the city. Por the past few years he has conducted an
undertaking establishment, which he sold out in January, 1907.
At present his regular business is the manufacture of tents and
awnings. In 1906 he was elected county treasurer, a position
which he now holds.
Dennis F. McGrath, the present popular postmaster at Barnes
ville, Clay county, Minnesota, is a native of Appleton, Wis., and
was born in December, 1858, the son of Dennis and Ellen (Cash-
man) McGrath.
He acquired his schooling in the public schools of Steele
county, Minnesota, and on attaining his majority in 1879, moved
onto a claim of 100 acres he had taken up in section eighteen,
Barnesville township, in Clay county, and worked it some two
years. In 1881 Mr. McGrath associated himself as a partner with
Hon. Peter E. Thompson, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this
work — in the lumber trade. The firm did a prosperous business,
amounting in 1885 to $40,000, the shipments that year being 116
carloads of lumber, eight of lime, ten of brick and two carloads
of windows, doors, paints, oils, etc. Closing his interests in the
lumber business in 1886, Mr. McGrather purchased from Mr.
Prankiroz his hardware business with a $10,000 stock of goods,
and in connection with the hardware trade bought and shipped
produce, oats, barley, potatoes, etc., and placed fire insurance,
representing five companies. He has always been an active man
of affairs, and, settling at Barnesville when its site was little more
than a swampy marsh, he has identified himself with the growth
and development of the town. He has served as president of the
village board, was town treasurer two years, has held the office of
justice of the peace, and during three terms, 1895-97-99, was a

1062 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
member of the state legislature, and in 19 — received his commis
sion and entered on his duties as postmaster of the town. In poli
tics he is a Republican, and he belongs to the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows.
In January, 1885, Mr. McGrath married Miss Anna McGuire,
of Owatonna, Minn., a woman of fine literary attainments and
broad culture.
Of nine children born to them, Edward, the eldest, and Charles,
the youngest, are deceased. The others in order of their birth are :
Dennis F., Jr., Margaret, Arthur, Maud (assistant in the post-
office), Ethel, Paul and Elizabeth.
John McGrath, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Barnes
ville, Clay county, Minnesota, was born in Greenville, Outagamie
county, Wisconsin, October 20, 1857, and is a son of Dennis and
Ellen (Cashman) McGrath, both natives of Ireland. The father
acquired a good education in county Cork, and after coming to
the United States taught school and served as county superin
tendent of schools of Outagamie county, Wisconsin, where he set
tled in the pioneer days. He was a soldier in the War of the Re
bellion, and participated in many battles.
He returned to Wisconsin after the war, and in April, 1867,
sold his land in Outagamie county and moved to Steele county,
Minnesota, where he bought a farm and where he was accidentaUy
killed July 17, 1867. His widow survived to the age of seventy-
two years, her death occurring February 14, 1896. They had
seven children, viz. : Alice, now the widow of Mr. G. Erickson, of
Black Hills; Mary, wife of Mr. Patrick Coulon, of Sacramento,
Cal. ; Thomas, who died in 1897, and whose sketch appears in this
work; Johanna, wife of Mr. John Welch, Steele county, Minne
sota; John the subject of this sketch; and Dennis F., the present
postmaster at Barnesville.
Our subject acquired his education in his native place and in
Steele county, Minnesota, whither the family moved when he was
nine years old. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, and at
the age of twenty-two, in 1879, in company with his brother
Thomas, started out on his own account. Taking three horses,
they made the journey across the country to Barnesville, in Clay
county, where they built on their homestead claim the first claim

BIOGRAPHY 1063
shack in that region. Our subject worked as a section hand, and
with Thomas, under the firm name of McGrath and McGrath,
opened a butcher 's shop and market. In 1880-81 he taught school,
and two years later bought the St. James Hotel, and during the
eighteen months that he conducted it he built near the railroad
depot what was known as the Central House, at the same time
carrying on a prosperous trade in the meat market.
Mr. McGrath, being early on the ground, was able to make
profitable investments and acquired title to much valuable land,
OAvning noAV some 1,500 acres, besides his home. He moved from
his farm into the village and devoted his attention largely to the
firm business, which grew to large proportions, comprising be
sides the meat market the operating of an elevator with a capacity
of 25,000 bushels. He was also interested in the business of L. H.
Clark & Company, dealers in groceries and coal and wood, and in
1885, with his brother, opened and carried on a large trade in
farm implements.
After the death of the brother, John, in January, 1897, his
estate's interest in the business continued till 1904, and in 1907
Mr. Leo McGrath, a son of John McGrath, and a young man of
brilliant promise, came into the firm.
Mr. McGrath has done much to build up and develop the town
of Barnesville, and is known as a generous and public-spirited
man. The ten acres devoted to a public park, on the west side of
town, was a gift from him. He was the first trustee of the village,
has served on the school board, was city treasurer thirteen years,
and for seven years mayor of the city. In politics he is a Repub
lican, and has served as chairman of numerous county, state and
congressional conventions, and in 1895 was elected to congress
from Clay county and re-elected in 1908. He is vice president of
Barnesville National Bank, belongs to the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United Work
men and the Royal Arcanum.
On September 25, 1895, Mr. McGrath married Miss Alice Bris-
lane, and there have been born to them seven children : Prances,
the eldest, born at Barnesville, is an alumna of the Moorhead
Normal School ; Alice, born at Barnesville, is a teacher at Grand
Forks ; Lucy lives at home ; Celia is a student in the high school

1064 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
at Grand Forks, while Ruth, John, Jr., and Robert Harold are
attending school at Barnesville.
Thomas McGrath was one of the pioneer settlers of Barnes
ville, Clay county, Mmnesota, who did much to develop the com
munity in the early days. He was a native of Appleton, Wis.,
a son of Dennis and Ellen (Cashman) McGrath, and a brother of
the Hon. John F. McGrath, whose sketch appears in this work.
With his brother John he took up a homestead claim near Barnes
ville, coming hither with three horses and being among the first
settlers of this section of Red River valley, theirs being the first
claim shack in the region. Barnesville was then a mere hamlet.
They opened the first meat market in the place and he carried
on that business until his decease in 1897.
He was a thrifty man, prospered in a financial way, and
acquired considerable property, owning at the time of his death
a finely improved farm of 360 acres north of Barnesville, a good
farm of about the same size west of the town and a large tract
of unimproved prairie land southwest of the viUage, besides per
sonal estate. Mr. McGrath married Miss Julia Brislain. Of five
children born to them, the eldest, Cornelia, is the wife of Mr. H.
C. Hendrickson, of Grand Forks; EUa, the second child, is mar
ried to Mr. Frank Miller and lives at Grace, Ida. ; Edward, the
fourth child, is a student at St. John's University; and Grover,
the youngest, lives at home. Leo McGrath, their third chdd and
eldest son, was born at Barnesville in May, 1887, and there ac
quired his preliminary education in the public schools. He then
spent two years in the high school, leaving during the senior year
to enter St. John's University, where he completed the commer
cial course and took a one year's course in scientific studies. After
leaving the University, he turned his attention to business, for
which he was well equipped, and for one year was in the employ
of Messrs. T. H. Clark & Company. After his father's death, in
1898, he became a member of the firm of McGrath & McGrath,
with which his father had been connected, being then the young
est man in active business in the town.
The firm conducts a general grocery store and meat market,
and operates a grain elevator dealing in various kinds of pro
duce and doing a prosperous and thriving business. He is actively

BIOGRAPHY 1065
identified with the M. B. A., a member of the Assumption Cath
olic church and a young man whose popularity and high standing
in the community give promise of a successful career.
James Conkey McKendry, of Fargo, N. D., was born May 13,
1854, at Newton Stewart, Scotland. His parents were Thomas
and Ann (Agnew) McKendry, both natives of Scotland; family
immigrated to Carlton, Orleans county, New York, when James
was six months old.
He was educated in the district schools and at Albion Acad
emy and Brockport Normal and Training School. After complet
ing his studies he worked his father's farm, and in November,
1881, came to North Dakota and farmed in Cass county for a num
ber of years, and then engaged in the grain, flour and feed busi
ness in Fargo.
He served for ten years as a member of the board of education
of the city of Fargo. During his terms of service much was ac
complished in the way of suitable buildings and necessary appli
ances that have brought the Fargo schools up to their present
high standard. He served as aid-de-camp with rank of colonel on
the staff of Governor Roger Allen. Mr. McKendry is a member
of all of the Masonic bodies and a member of the Masonic club.
He was married at Gaines, N. Y., to Miss Jennie R., second
daughter of Senator A. Hutchinson.
John D. McPhee, mayor of Crookston, Minn., came from Bruce
county, Ontario, Canada, where he was born on May 14, 1856, of
Scottish ancestry. His parents were John and Esther McPhee,
who came to Ontario from Scotland, in 1847, and there spent their
active lives following the occupation of farming, and experienced
the usual privations of pioneer life. They reared their children
on the farm and educated them in the public schools.
In the spring of 1879 John D. moved to Crookston, Minn., and
later to Winnipeg, but soon returned to the Red River valley and
Polk county, Minnesota, and in November of the same year he
secured a homestead in Walsh county, North Dakota, but con
tinued farming in Polk county and serving as foreman on the
Keystone farm for a number of years; then was promoted to
manager for the same company on their Lockhart farms in Nor
man county, Minnesota, Avhich position he held for fifteen years,

1066 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY"
until the farm was divided up into smaller farms. In 1902 he
moved to Crookston and engaged in the real estate business and
became a partner in the Red River Valley Land Company, in
which he has ever since been interested.
Mr. McPhee began life as a poor boy, but the same industry,
good judgment and well-directed ambition has crowned him
through all his years. He never feels better than when fully occu
pied and thrives under strains to which weaker mentalities would
succumb. His political views are favorable to the Republican
party, and in 1906 he was elected to the office of mayor of Crooks
ton, and in 1907 was re-elected for a two-year term, and during
his entire office term he has exhibited an unflinching fidelity to
the people in general.
Mr. McPhee is a member of the Commercial Club of Crookston,
the Masonic Order and the BeneA7olent and Protective Order of
Elks. In 1888 he was united in marriage to Miss Susan Cheeney,
of Bellevue, IoAva.
0. C. Melbye, the subject of this sketch, is one of the principal
promoters and developers of Ulen village and Clay county. He
came to America in 1877, from Christiania, Norway, where he was
born in 1852, educated and fitted for the struggles of life.
After receiving what education the public schools afforded
him, Mr. Melbye entered the Military Academy at Christiania,
from Avhich he graduated with honors in the class of 1876, and
then took up newspaper work and did considerable writing and
editorial Avork for the next year, and, being impressed with the
favorable and glowing reports of his brother from Becker county,
Minnesota, he decided to try his fortune there. He first located
in Lake Park, Avhere he worked on a farm a year, and then bought
out a claim in Highland Grove, a short distance from Hawley.
The first couple of years he did some trapping, as fur was plenti
ful in those days, but spent most of his time in proving up and
improving his land. Hawley was his trading point, and he re
mained here until 1887 and then moved to the new village of Ulen,
where he had previously built a comfortable residence — the first
one built in the village — and immediately engaged in the grocery
business, later handling a stock of farm machinery, and has ever
since enjoyed a lucrative business. He sold his farm some two

BIOGRAPHY 1067
years later. In 1887 he was appointed postmaster of Ulen and
served in that capacity for about fourteen years, under Presi
dents Cleveland, Harrison and McKinley, and always having a
pleasant word for every one, he handled the office with entire sat
isfaction. He erected the first postoffice building for that purpose.
Mr. Melbye has also been engaged in the insurance business
for a number of years and represents three of the best companies
— the German- American, of New York; the Home, of New York,
and the Phoenix, of Plartford, Conn. — in America. He has indeed
been a valuable factor in the development and progress of his
community, and has always been active in every movement for
the advantage of the people, and has always been active in bring
ing about better facilities for educational work in the county. He
was township clerk of Ulen, and served six years prior to its in
corporation, and served as assessor for the township and village
of Ulen in all about twenty terms. He married Miss Annie Bur-
gerson, of Becker county, Minnesota, in 1879, and they are the
parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters. They are
members of the Lutheran Synod church. Mr. Melbye was its sec
retary from 1888 to 1892. Mr. Melbye is also greatly interested
in the electric light plant of the village.
Mr. Melbye has always been a staunch supporter of republican
principles, and his name can justly go into history as the "back
bone ' ' of Clay county, a public-spirited, generous man with a host
of substantial friends.
William H. Merritt, contractor and builder, of Moorhead, is
one of the most popular men of the city in his line of business,
having followed the trade of a contractor for some thirty years.
Mr. Merritt was born in Hastings, Mich., on September 20,
1854, the son of Alexander and Betsey Merritt, both natives of
New England, and came to Minnesota in an early day and set
tled in Goodhue county, where Mr. Merritt was engaged in farm
ing for a number of years. He died at Northfield, Minn., on March
6, 1894. Mrs. Merritt, mother of William, died November 11, 1885.
William H. Merritt is practically a self-made man, his educa
tion being limited to the common schools of Northfield. His am
bitious nature, however, covered all his deficiencies in this line,
and he made the most of every possible opportunity to acquire

1068 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
knowledge of business operations. At an early age he began the
carpenter's trade in Northfield, and has for the past thirty years
been a contractor. In 1883 he went to Helena, Mont., where he
remained for eleven years and worked at his trade, erecting nu
merous buildings there and in Vancouver, British Columbia and
Puget Sound. He first came to Moorhead in the seventies and for
the last fifteen years has permanently resided in this city.
Mr. Merritt is a member of the Masonic Order, Scottish Rites,
and a Shriner, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America
and A. O. U. W.
On July 26, 1882, he was married to Harriet E. Syron, daugh
ter of Michael Syron, a pioneer of Moorhead. Mr. and Mrs. Mer
ritt have a family of three children, viz. : Frances, Lillian and
Edna. Charles E. MUler was born at Alexandria, in Douglas county,
Minnesota, in 1872, and is one of a family of three children born
to Sophus N. and Julia E. (Thompson) Miller, both natives of
Norway. The parents of Sophus N. Miller were Prosper P. and
Sophia (Bent) Miller, natives of Germany. They moved to Nor
way in early life and there Prosper P. worked at the cooper's
trade. His wife died in 1854, and in 1855 he immigrated to this
country, but soon returned to Norway and there died in 1860,
leaving four children, viz. : Frederick, Dinah, Torval and our sub
ject. Father Sophus N. Miller acquired a good education in Nor
way and at the age of fourteen spent one year on the sea as a
sailor. Returning home he spent four years clerking in a hardware
store, and in 1863 came to the United States and for a few months
was employed on the railroad at Cambridge, Wis., and on a steam
boat on the Mississippi river. He next spent four years clerking
in a drug store at Janesville, Wis., after which he moved to Alex
ander, Minn., and spent two years in mercantile trade. He sold
his business in 1870 and opened a general agency, and as local
representative of numerous financial concerns did an extensive
and prosperous business. He was sole agent of the Freehold Land
& Mortgage Company, of London, capital $5,000,000 ; the Scottish
American Mortgage Company, of Edinburgh, Scotland ; also agent
for the Land Mortgage & Investment Agency Company of Amer-

BIOGRAPHY 1069
ica, with headquarters in London, England, capital $5,000,000;
and for fifteen years was agent for the Corbin Banking Company
of New York, and in that time handled business for it to the
amount of $1,500,000, without the loss of a dollar.
He made large purchases in land and owned a finely improved
farm of 300 acres. He was a man of fine social standing and an
active member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows Orders, and in
religious belief was affiliated with the Lutheran church.
His elegant home just beyond the city limits on the shore of
Lake Winona, one of the beauty spots of the county, was a center
of culture and refinement.
In 1866 he married Miss Julia S. Thompson, who died in
1877, leaving, besides our subject, two daughters, Minnie E. and
Carrie S.
Charles E. Miller acquired a good education, finishing his
schooling at Northfield, Minn., and grew up in his father's busi
ness, where he received most valuable training and experience in
financial matters. He is recognized as among the leading finan
ciers of Clay county and his counsels are widely sought and relied
upon. He is executor of the Peter Thompson estate of Barnes
ville and in its management has shown executive ability of a high
order. He is a member of the Northwestern Mortgage Security Com
pany of Fargo, and also is identified with the Hawley Mercantile
Company, and is rightly counted among the wideawake, progres
sive and reliable business men of his city.
Harvey Chase Misner, of the firm of Wheeler, Misner & Com
pany, of Crookston, Minn., was born in Sheboygan county, Wis
consin, on January 9, 1854. His parents were Ira P. and Irvilla
(Chapin) Misner, who had a family of four children, Harvey being
the second child. The family resided in Wisconsin during the
greater part of their lives and followed the occupation of farming
until 1867, when the family left the farm and moved to Pond du
Lac, Wis., where they made their home and Harvey obtained a
public school education. In the year 1870 he entered the employ
of W. B. Barker, and worked as clerk in the general merchan
dising business for about nine years, obtaining in the meantime
some valuable experience which enabled him, at the expiration of

1070 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
that time, to open a business of his own. Forming a partnership
with Mr. A. L. Lindsley, they opened a fine grocery store in Fond
du Lac in the spring of 1879, but remained here for only about
three months, when they moved the business to Fourteen Mile
Switch, now Euclid, Minn. Here they erected a temporary store
building fourteen by twenty-six, which served as the store and
bachelor's lodging, but reverses overtook them here and the part
nership was dissolved. Mr. Misner then, in 1881, associated with
Mr. E. Taylor, the firm being E. Taylor & Company, with Mr.
Misner in charge of the business, and his brother, Wells C. Misner,
a joint owner until his death in 1894. Our subject then purchased
the entire business, but soon afterward sold a half interest to Mr.
A. H. Pitkin, and it was thereafter conducted under the firm name
of H. C. Misner & Co., and in 1899 the firm of Misner, Chapin &
Fish was organized, and in 1904 Mr. Misner became a member of
his present firm of Wheeler-Misner Loan Company, of which he
has since been the secretary-treasurer, this being one of the lead
ing real estate, loan and insurance firms of the Northwest.
Mr. Misner is liberal and far-sighted in his political views,
rather in favor of Republican candidates and Republican princi
ples. He has given much attention to local and state public affairs,
giving his support at all times according to his own best judg
ment. He was the first clerk of Euclid township and served in
that capacity for about seventeen years, and is one of the most
prominent, influential and substantial citizens in Polk county. He
is president of the Commercial Club of Crookston, and fraternally
is a Shriner and thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the
Elks Lodge and the Modern Woodmen of America. He was mar
ried in 1881 to Miss Ida M. Taylor, of Lyons, Iowa. They are the
parents of three children, Harvey W. Misner, of Pasadena, Cal.,
and two of whom are deceased. In 1896 they adopted a daughter,
Helen M.
Birt Elsworth Mitterling, proprietor of the Larimore Machine
Works, is a native of LaPorte, Ind., where he was born Septem
ber 24, 1874. His parents were Solomon C. and Sarah Mitterling.
His father was a contractor. He was of German descent, and our
subject's mother was of English ancestry. Birt received but a
limited amount of schooling, and commenced to make his Avay in

BIOGRAPHY 1071
the world by acquiring a thorough mechanical training, in which
he has worked himself up step by step. First in the employ of
the Sprague Company of Chicago, where he spent five years as a
machinist, and from that to the construction of steam plants,
which he followed for two years. He was then connected with
the Sullivan Machine Company in the building of hoisting ma
chinery until March, 1896, when he removed to Larimore, N. D.,
and established the industry of which he is the active head.
Mr. Mitterling was married in Chicago, on June 3, 1899, to
Miss Anna Frick, of the same city. They have one son, Ebin, who
is at this date six years old.
William J. Mooney, of Langdon, was born in Watertown, Wis.,
September 29, 1858. His father, John Mooney, was a native of
Queens county, Ireland, and his mother was a native of 
county, Ireland. Both left their native land, however, and came
to America while young. The subject of this sketch was gradu
ated from the College of the Sacred Heart at Watertown, Wis., in
1875, when but seventeeen years of age. After teaching for two
years he read law and was admitted to the Wisconsin bar. He
came to North Dakota in 1881, locating at Bathgate, Pembina
county. He engaged in the practice of law with John D. Stack,
of Bathgate, and the firm of Stack & Mooney for years held a
prominent place in the front ranks of the Pembina county bar.
In 1884 Mr. Mooney circulated a petition for the organization of
CavaUer county, and with P. J. McHugh later perfected its or
ganization. They also secured the right of way for the extension
of the railroad from Park River to Langdon, and induced the
company to build the extension which resulted in the develop
ment of the county. Mr. Mooney took an active interest in build
ing up that section from the first and was instrumental in bring
ing many settlers from other states into the county. He was the
owner of the townsites of Langdon, Milton, Osnabrock and Edin-
burg. Mr. Mooney was president of the Cavalier County National
Bank, formerly the W. J. Mooney State Bank of Langdon ; presi
dent of the Citizens' State Bank of Wales, N. D. ; president of the
North Oak Land and Townsite Company; director of the North
ern Insurance Association of Detroit, Mich., and many other cor
porations. He also had extensive farming interests in Cavalier

1072 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
county, owned several large summer resort hotels in Michigan
and had other real estate interests. Mr. Mooney had been twice
married. He has one son, John B. Mooney, who is now assistant
bank examiner of North Dakota. Politically Mr. Mooney was a
lifelong Democrat and always took a prominent part in the coun
sels of his party. He many times refused political preferment,
however, his extensive private interests requiring too much of his
time to permit the sacrifice. Mr. Mooney traveled extensively
during the past few years, having visited nearly all the important
parts of the world. While on an extended European trip in the
winter of 1908, Mr. Mooney was killed by a collision of the steam
ship Florida, his body going down with the ill-fated Republic,
upon which he was a passenger.
Michael F. Murphy ranks among the leading citizens of Grand
Forks, N. D. He is a native of Dubuque county, Iowa, and was
born March 28, 1858, to Patrick and Ellen (Manning) Murphy.
He acquired a good common and high school education, and sup
plemented it with a course at Bayles' Business College of Du
buque. He then taught five terms in district schools in Iowa and
Minnesota, after whieh he went to Fargo, N. D., arriving there
March 12, 1879, and until August of the following year was em
ployed as bookkeeper for Messrs. Porrett and Rossiter. The next
one and a half years he was bookkeeper for Messrs. L. D. Burger
& Company, then spent a year as salesman for Messrs. Peterson
and Sargent, dealers in farm machinery and implements, and
from 1883 to 1886 traveled for the Ames Iron Works, as sales
man, collector, etc.
On January 1, 1886, Mr. Murphy associated himself with Mr.
Stephen Collins, under the firm name of Collins & Murphy, and
with headquarters at Grand Porks opened a general farm imple
ment and fuel business, which, under their wise management,
grew to be the largest of its kind in the state, when, on January 1,
1893, Mr. Murphy sold his interest to his partner.
On leaving this business Mr. Murphy became general agent
for the Union Central Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati,
Ohio, in charge of its loan department, and as financial agent of
the company has built up and is carrying on the largest loan busi
ness west of Chicago. Mr. Murphy is essentially a man of action,

BIOGRAPHY 1073
who for years has been interested in and closely identified with
public and civic affairs. He has served in the city council of
Grand Forks, and in 1889 was president of that body. Elected to
the school board in 1893, he served continuously for twelve years,
six years of that time as president of the board. Since 1904 he
has been on the Grand Forks City Park board, is one of the re
gents of the University of North Dakota, and from 1897 to 1901
was a member of the state senate, and has been active in the coun-
cUs of the Democratic party, as member of the state central com
mittee, delegate to the national convention, etc. He was one of
the organizers of the North Dakota Bankers' Association, served
as its president in 1904, and is now (1909) on its executive com
mittee. Mr. Murphy is also president of the State Bank of Reynolds,
N. D. ; president of the State Bank of International Falls, a
director of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Jamestown, of
the State Banks of Hoople and of Concrete, and also a director of
the North Dakota Railroad Company.
He is interested in fraternal organizations, being a member
of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and of the Cath
olic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus.
On May 2, 1882, Mr. Murphy married Miss Margaret E. Bowler
and they have had eight children, of whom three, viz. : Mary,
Louis and Margaret, are living. Mrs. Murphy was one of the vic
tims of the disastrous collision between the steamships Republic
and Florida on January 23, 1909, and, though seriously injured,
displayed such fortitude and bravery as to evoke great praise
from officers and fellow passengers on the unfortunate vessel, and
high commendation from the press of New York and other cities.
William C. Nash is one of the pioneer residents of East Grand
Forks, having located here on his present homestead in the year
1870, and was the first settler in this region. He was engaged in
carrying United States mail in the early days from Fort Aber
crombie to Pembina, using dogs and sleds for the purpose, and
served for about four years as postmaster of East Grand Porks.
His home was used by the early settlers as a temporary fort.
Mr. Nash was born in Newcastle, Pa., June 1, 1833, and was
the son of Ephriam and Lois (Warner) Nash, who were natives

1074 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
of New York state and moved to Pennsylvania, where they farmed
for several years, and then returned to New York, where they
both died. The family originally came from Massachusetts. Two
of their sons now reside in Washington state and one other he-
sides William C. resides in Minnesota. William spent most of his
youthful days in New York and Michigan ; he attended school at
Adrian, Mich., for three years, and in 1854 he went to Harrisburg,
Ky., where he engaged in general merchandising and followed the
business until 1860. He then accompanied General Hatch on his
campaign through the Northwest after Indians, as far as Pem
bina, N. D., spending the winters of 1863-4 in Ports Garry and
Pembina, Canada, and while there acted as agent for the govern
ment and succeeded in bringing Little Six and Medicine Bottle,
two Indian chiefs, back to the United States under arrest. The
following summer he spent in Chicago, and in the fall was ap
pointed sutler at Fort Abercrombie and held that position five
years, during which time he was contracting, and in 1870 built
the post at Pembina and made the first brick used in Dakota.
Mr. Nash was married in St. Peter, Minn., in 1869, to Miss Ida
V. Slaughter, a native of Ohio; her family was one of the old
families of Virginia. Seven children — four sons and three daugh
ters — were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nash. Mr. Nash has been a
prominent member of the Masonic Order for the past fifty years
and is highly esteemed in the order. He is a Democrat in political
sentiments, but has never sought or held public office. He is a
man of broad and liberal views, and is considered one of the most
substantial and influential citizens of the Red River valley.
Knud Nedburge, one of the self-made men of Clay county and
a representative agriculturist of Goose Prairie township, is a
brother-in-law of our genial county treasurer, Chris Paulson,
whose sketch also appears in this hisitory.
Mr. Nedburge was born in Norway in 1865, the son of Lars and
Ingabor Nedburge, also natives of Norway, where the mother died
and the father still resides. They had a family of nine children,
our subject being the only representative of the family in Amer
ica. Pie was educated in the public schools and worked on a farm
until 1885 in Norway. He then decided to try his fortune in this
country, and settled first in Twin Valley, Minn., but remained but

BIOGRAPHY 1075
a short time, and the same year moved to Clay county, where he
worked at farming by the month for about five years. In 1890
he married Miss Clara Nykreim, and together they purchased a
farm of 160 acres in Section 4, Goose Prairie township, one mile
south from Ulen village, for which they paid a small price per
acre, with no buildings except a log house and granary. Eight
years later Mr. Nedburge erected his comfortable farm residence
of fifteen rooms and a barn forty-eight by sixty, and a granary
sixteen by twenty-six, with sheds and other commodious out
buildings. His farming is general and his land well fenced, with
a fine herd of cattle, hogs, horses, sheep, etc., and a few thorough
bred Angora goats.
Mrs. Nedburge is the eldest child of a family of seven, and
was born in Goodhue county, Minnesota, October 26, 1873. Mr.
and Mrs. Nedburge are the parents of eight children, seven of
whom are living. They are members of the United Lutheran
church. Mr. Nedburge has always been a staunch supporter of the
Republican party ; he served one term on the board of supervisors
and has been school treasurer for a number of years.
Christopher E. Nelson, real estate dealer, is a resident of
Barnesville, Minn. He was born in Denmark in the year 1869,
came to this country as an emigrant in 1887 and settled in Cal
houn county, Iowa, worked as a farm hand for three years. In
1892 he was married to Miss Lorena Gould, daughter of Henry
and Margaret Gould.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson settled on a farm near Manson, Iowa,
where they remained for four years, moving to Manson in the
spring of 1896 ; there he engaged in the implement business until
1901, when he moved with his family to Barnesville, Minn. Here
he engaged in the real estate business, in which he has continued
up to the present time. Mr. Nelson is considered a thorough
business man in every respect.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have a family of five children, viz. :
Erlice, Grace, Ewart, Elsie and Henry.
Thomas Nisbet is a prosperous business man and land owner
of Grand Forks, N. D. A native of Delhousie, Ontario, he was
born December 24, 1843, and is a son of William and Christina

1076 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
(Lindsay) Nisbet. He attended the public schools of his native
place during his boyhood, and lived on his father's farm until he
was seventeen years old, and then worked at blacksmithing until
a little past his majority.
In 1865 he removed to Winona, Minn., and after working at
his trade there thirteen years, he, in 1878, went to Polk county,
Minnesota, and settled on a 400-acre tract of railroad land near
Mallory, whieh he purchased for $1,500. He broke up 300 acres,
erected buildings and supplied the necessary equipments and car
ried on farming here some five years, sellmg the place in 1883 for
$9,600. During the next thirteen years Mr. Nisbet made his home
in Mallory and dealt extensively in farm lands. In 1895 he re
moved to Grand Forks, purchasing and furnishing the elegant and
commodious home where he now lives.
During these years he has had many real estate transactions
that have been financially successful, and now OAvns in Polk
county 2,000 acres of fine farming land, to the cultivation of which
he has given his personal attention.
Mr. Nisbet is a clear-sighted and far-sighted man of affairs,
and his judgment in the matters to which he has given his prin
cipal attention for many years is unerring. For years he has been
actively identified with Masonry and now holds the thirty-second
degree, the highest in the order.
On December 30, 1873, Mr. Nisbet married Miss Jeanette, the
daughter of Mr. Thomas Robertson, of Winona, Minn. Of five
children born to them, four, viz. : Ada, William G., Jennie and
May, are living. The second child, Maggie, is deceased.
Moses Norman is one of the wideawake business men of Grand
Forks, N. D., who has attained success by faithful, honest work.
He was born at Henderson, in Sibley county, Minn., September 9,
1863, and is a son of Nelson and Mary (Riley) Norman, the former
of French and the latter of Irish lineage. He traces his ancestry
back to the colonial days, his great-great grandfather Norman
being a soldier in the Revolutionary War and losing his life in the
battle of Bunker Hill. His parents were married and lived in
Rome, N. Y., and moved from there to Minnesota in 1847. A
sister of Mr. Norman's father has for fifty-five years been Mother
Superior of Hotel Dien St. Joseph, a Catholic hospital at Mon-

BIOGRAPHY 1077
treal, Canada. She is a grand niece of Mgr. Plessit, bishop of
Quebec. Our subject acquired a common school education, and at the
age of nineteen, in 1882, left home and settled at Grand Forks
and engaged in farming some two years. In 1884 he went to
Lakota, in Nelson county, and was in business there as an under
taker and funeral director until 1901, when he returned to Grand
Forks and established the undertaking and furniture business to
which he has since devoted his attention.
Mr. Norman has always been more or less active in public and
civil affairs, and been honored with numerous positions of confi
dence and trust. He has served on the local school board con
tinuously since 1895 and has been absent from only four board
meetings in that time. He is president of the Furniture Dealers
Association of North Dakota, president of the Irish American
Club of Grand Forks, and holds membership in Grand Porks
Lodge No. 255 Elks, and No. 1260 Knights of Columbus. In poli
tics he has always been a Democrat, while his religious affiliations
are with the Roman Catholic church.
On June 2, 1886, Mr. Norman married Miss Ella Clara Lynch,
the wedding ceremony being performed by Rev. Father Mexter at
St. Michael's church. Of six children born to them, Paul V., the
eldest, is associated with his father in business; Gertrude is at
tending high school, where she will be graduated in June, 1909;
Legare is a student at Union Commercial College; Keneth and
Lawrence are in the eighth grade at the Wilder school, and
Helena, the youngest, six years old, is at home.
S. M. T. Nykreim, one of the most prosperous and progressive
citizens of Clay county, was born in Norway, March 11, 1842, the
son of Thorga and J. Nykreim, who were the parents of three
sons and two daughters, viz. : Thorga and Anna are both living in
Norway ; Martha, deceased ; Rev. P. Nykreim is now pastor of the
Lutheran church at Park River, N. D., and our subject, who died
in Ulen, on October 11, 1905. Mrs. Nykreim, his widow, still sur
vives and resides on the old homestead. They were the parents
of seven children, viz. : Clara, now wife of Knud L. Nedburge,
whose sketch appears in this work ; Ragnelle' Petrine, now wife
of Christ Paulson, county treasurer, whose sketch may also be

1078 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
found elsewhere in this work ; Theodore, Annie, wife of Andrew
Aubolee; Laura Christina; Thora Mathilda, wife of Henry San-
nan, of Ulen ; and Sofus Martinus.
In 1868 Mr. Nykreim came to the United States and settled
first in Illinois, where he remained a short time and moved to
Goodhue county, Minnesota, and taught a Norwegian school for
some time. He was well educated in his native country and
worked for a number of years as clerk. He was married about
1871, in Goodhue county, to Miss Martha Kopperdal, also a native
of Norway. Her father was born there in the year 1800, and died
in Goodhue county, Minnesota, in 1884. Mrs. Kopperdal died
while yet a young woman, leaving a family of six children, four
of whom crossed this country with their parents in 1866. Miss
Annie Kopperdal now lives with her sister, Mrs. Nykreim, and is
now in her seventy-fourth year and a very interesting lady.
In 1879 Mr. and Mrs. Nykreim, with three children, came by
rail to Lake Park, and by horse team to Clay county. Mr. Ny
kreim had made a previous trip to his claim, paving the way for
his family, in Goose Prairie township. The first house they lived
in was a substantial fourteen by twenty-two cabin, which they
erected, and later built on an additional room twelve by sixteen.
Four of their youngest children were born in this house. He later
erected a good barn and other outbuildings, and the family among
them own the homestead. In 1897 Mr. Nykreim moved to Ulen
village and engaged in the hotel business, and erected a good
comfortable and attractive house in Ulen. His hotel was the City
Hotel, situated opposite the bank, which was destroyed by fire in
the fall of 1907.
Mr. Nykreim was a member of the village council for some
time and trustee of the United Lutheran church. He was an ex
tensive dealer in real estate also. He was the teacher of the first
Sunday school in the United Lutheran church of Ulen.
Christian Paulson, county treasurer of Clay county, is a resi
dent of Moorhead and was elected to his present office in 1908 on
the Republican ticket.
Mr. Paulson is the son of Paul and Kjesti (Kjilson) Revision,
who came to the United States from Norway in the early sixties
and lived for a time in Forest City, Iowa, where their son Chris-

BIOGRAPHY 1079
tian was born on April 30, 1868. Soon after this they moved to
Minnesota and settled on a farm in the southern part of the state,
where both died when our subject was about three years old.
Christian then went to live with an aunt, who gave him the best
opportunities possible, but at an early age he became his own
support and began a busy life, in the meantime taking advantage
of every possible chance to obtain an education. In 1886 he moved
to Ulen, in Clay county, where he followed farming, dealt in
wheat and later engaged in the electric light and telephone busi
ness, of which he has since been the owner and promoter, and
recently disposed of to the telephone exchange. From 1888 to
1889 he worked in a store as clerk in Forest City, Iowa, and at
tended the Lutheran Academy, in Albert Lea, Minn., where he
graduated in 1892.
On January 13, 1908, Mr. Paulson was appointed to the office
of county treasurer to fill the unexpired term caused by the death
of Mr. H. P. Strate, who had served that office for the past twenty-
three years, and in November, 1908, was duly elected. During
Mr. Paulson's residence in Ulen, he served for a number of years
as recorder, later resigning the office. He has long been credited
with being the leader in the growth and advancement of Ulen, and
as a citizen, neighbor and friend is held in the highest esteem by
the people of Moorhead.
Amasa Parker Peake, adjutant general of the state of North
Dakota, was commissioned brigadier general and appointed adju
tant general January 7, 1909, by the governor of North Dakota.
General Peake Avas born in Crow Wing, Minn., in 1861, when
that point was the extreme northern frontier. His father, the
Rev. E. Steele Peake, being a missionary of the Episcopal church
to the Chippewa Indians from 1856 until the Indian uprising and
massacre in 1862, at whieh time he, with his family, made his
escape from the Indian country and took refuge at Fort Ripley,
Minn. In August, 1862, General Peake 's father accepted the chap
laincy of the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, send
ing his Avife, Mary Parker Peake, and his young son to spend the
next three years with friends and relatives in New York state.
In the fall of 1865, after the muster out of his regiment, the Rev.
Mr. Peake accepted the rectorship of the Episcopal church at

1080 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Austin, Minn., but his health had been so injured by service in
the south that the following year, August, 1866, saw him installed
as rector of Trinity church, San Jose, Cal., where he resided until
1871, when he took charge of St. Luke's church, San Francisco.
Thus twelve years of the boyhood and youth of General Peake
were spent on the Pacific coast and the greater part of his early
education was had at St. Matthew's Military7 School at San Mates,
Cal., where he received the instruction which gave him so strong
a military bent. Later, upon the removal of the family to north
ern Minnesota, he continued his school work at Shattuck MiUtary
School, Faribault, Minn.
In June, 1881, at the age of nineteen, General Peake located in
Valley City, N. D., and has ever since resided there. After work
ing for a year in a general store, he secured a position in one of
the banks of that toAvn, and in 1886 became its cashier. In 1889
he abandoned banking for the more free and lucrative business
of handling real estate, collections and loans, and in this he was
very successful.
In 1897 he became interested in the Lignite coal industry, and
at this writing owns half interest in the Consolidated Coal Com
pany, operating on the Northern Pacific and the Chicago, Milwau
kee & St. Paul. In 1906 he ventured into the copper mine indus
try in Butte, Mont., and there gathered together the property
now known as the Butte & Superior Copper Company, which
promises to be one of the heaviest dividend payers ever organized
in Butte. General Peake was married in June, 1888, to Anne Teale Hol-
lister and has a family of six children: George T., who is at
Shattuck School, Faribault, Minn. ; Esther A., Elizabeth H., Char
lotte L., Amasa Parker, Jr., and James Edgar, ranging in age
from nineteen years to eight years.
During his life as a student in military schools, General Peake
became much interested in military affairs, and at the organiza
tion of the Territorial National Guard, in 1885, he joined the com
pany organized at Valley City and was chosen its first sergeant.
In 1889 he was promoted to captain, two years later received his
majority. In 1893 he became lieutenant colonel and in 1895

BIOGRAPHY 1081
colonel of the First Infantry Regiment North Dakota National
Guard, which position he held until promoted to brigadier gen
eral and made adjutant general in 1909.
He was for eight years president of the board of management
of the State Normal School at Valley City, N. D., and has served
his district as a member of the legislature. He takes a great inter
est in educational work and believes thoroughly in compulsory
physical training for both boys and girls. He has been successful
in his undertakings and in his service when called upon by the
state. Joseph Dexter Peirce, a progressive and wideawake citizen of
Larimore, N. D., was born December 5, 1857, at Newburgh, N. Y.,
and is a son of Henry T. and Mary E. (Chapman) Peirce. After
finishing his preliminary studies in the public schools of New
burgh, he attended Phillips Exeter Academy a short time, then
studied Latin and Greek at Heighland Institute, Newburgh, under
Professor Merryfield, afterward president of the University of
North Dakota, and closed his schooling with a course of study at
Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie.
His ambition was to attend and graduate from Harvard Col
lege, but ill health and naturally delicate constitution compelled
him to abandon his purpose and led him to take up his residence
in North Dakota. Before this, however, he spent three years as
a clerk in the dry goods jobbing house of Heazen, Todds & Com
pany of New York, and it was in the spring of 1883 that he went
to Cass county, North Dakota, and bought a relinquishment of a
claim near Hunter. This he sold early in 1885 and bought a fine
large farm some six miles north of Larimore, and there carried on
stock raising and grain growing eleven years with good success.
In the spring of 1896 Mr. Peirce moved into the village of
Larimore and established the real estate, loan and insurance busi
ness that has since engaged his attention, and in which he has
attained marked success. Mr. Peirce is an active man of affairs,
and has figured to some extent in local politics. He is a leading
¦progressive Republican, and was sent to the third legislative as
sembly of the state, where he served as chairman of the committee
on engrossing, and as a member of the committees on judiciary,

1082 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
education, agriculture, immigration, apportionment, and the joint
standing committee on joint rules. He has also served as city
treasurer, assessor and police magistrate.
He is actively identified with numerous fraternal and civic
organizations, being a member of North Star Lodge No. 16, An
cient Free and Accepted Masons, North Star Chapter No. 32, 0. E.
S., and the Commercial Club. He assisted in organizing and is
now assistant chief of the Larimore fire department. As chair
man of the good roads committee of the Commercial Club, he
originated and secured the first state good roads convention which
was held at Larimore June 3, 1908.
Mr. Peirce is especially interested in farmers' institutes and
is president of the Western Grand Forks County Farmers' Insti
tute Association ; and, with the aid of the late Thomas F. Eastgate,
in the face of many obstacles and discouragements, brought to
pass the second farmers ' institute held in the state. This institu
tion, Avhich has come to be the largest and most popular of any
in the state, except the grain growers' convention at Fargo, now
holds a midwinter fair and is exerting a wide influence and doing
a vast amount of good throughout the farming communities of
the state, and its phenomenal success is largely attributable to
the untiring and effective work of Mr. Peirce.
George E. Perley, a long time resident of Moorhead and one of
her prominent and solid professional and business men, was born
and reared on a New Hampshire farm, where conditions were not
altogether easy, but where the best early training for life and
its problems is readily found. He was graduated from Kimball
Union Academy and Dartmouth College, and was principal of the
Charlestown, N. H., high school for two years, and studied law
at Claremont, N. H., in the office of Hon. Ira Colby. In 1883 he
was admitted to the bar of New Hampshire, and a few months
later was admitted with credit to the Boston bar. He immedi
ately commenced the practice of law in Boston, whieh he con
tinued until May, 1884, when the call of the West becoming loud
and insistent, he emigrated to the Red River valley and Moor
head, first marrying and bringing with him the girl of his choice,
Miss M. Etta Jones, of Windsor, Vt. Here he formed a partner
ship with John B. Wellcome, late of Butte, Mont., deceased, in

'^/^co

BIOGRAPHY 1083
law, insurance and investments, and upon the removal of Mr.
Wellcome to Montana, continued the business alone. He is the
proprietor and manager of the George E. Perley Farm Loan
Agency, with main office at Moorhead and several branch offices
at other points in northern Minnesota.
Mr. Perley has twice represented Clay county in the legisla
ture, and has served two terms as Alderman of his city. In the
legislature of 1905 he was the author and promoter of the famous
"Perley Bill," divorcing the State University from the board of
control, which became a law. In politics Mr. Perley is a Repub
lican, and in church affiliations a Congregationalist ; in public
affairs a progressive and liberal-minded citizen. He has been for
many years a member of the city board of education, and for much
of the time its president. He is trustee of the Fargo College, of
Fargo, N. D. ; secretary of the public library board, and a cor
porate member of the American Board of Foreign Missions. He
is a forceful speaker, a versatile writer and an enthusiastic mu
sician. Mr. and Mrs. Perley have one daughter, Grace.
Axel W. Peterson, who is recognized as one of the progressive
business men of Hawley, Minn., was born in Sweden in 1870, and
is one of a family of seven sons and three daughters born to Nels
and Johanna Peterson. The family immigrated to the United
States when our subject was but six months old and settled in
southern Mmnesota; but a year later moved with others to
Becker county, Minnesota, and settled on a tract of government
land some five miles north of Lake Park.
Our subject grew up on this farm and attended the district
schools and afterwards was graduated from the commercial de
partment of Curtis Business College at Minneapolis. In 1892 Mr.
Peterson left home and coming to Hawley worked as a clerk in
the store of Messrs. Rudser and Larson, general merchants, until
January 4, 1894, when their store was destroyed by fire. Being
thus thrown out of employment, he had no regular work for a
time, but turnedrhis hand to any honorable employment by which
he could earn an honest dollar, and finally found a position as
clerk in the store of Mr. C. E. Lunquist, for whom he worked four
years, after which he opened a store on his own account. This
business was carried on with good success under the firm name of

1084 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Peterson Eid & Company, until 1902, when the firm was dissolved
and Mr. Peterson associated with himself his brother, Mr. M. F.
Peterson. Since April 1,1902, the business has been carried on
under the firm name of Peterson Brothers. The business, which
at first occupied but half the present store building, has grown
to large proportions under the careful and wise management.
Mr. Peterson believes in advertising, and often appear in the
local papers full page advertisements, original in character and
attractive, that bring to the business a vast amount of trade that
else would not come.
Mr. Peterson is a careful buyer, knows what he needs to meet
the demands of his trade, and has the reputation among traveling
salesmen of being a man who can say no, and mean it, and at the
same time retain their friendship and good will by his courtesy
and gentlemanly deportment. Mr. Peterson has found it neces
sary to devote himself closely to his business, to the neglect of
many social enjoyments. He, however, is an active member of the
Modern Woodmen of America and has filled official positions in
the local lodge. He also belongs to the American Brotherhood of
Yeomen. In 1895 Mr. Peterson married Miss Lena, a daughter of Mrs.
Elene Grue, a pioneer settler of Hawley, and proprietor of the
Northwestern Hotel, and they have four children, viz. : Irving,
Allen, Jewel and Belle May.
Joseph R. Poupore.— One of the busiest and most genial of
men in the Red River valley is Mr. Joseph R. Poupore, our well
known county commissioner and heavy railroad contractor.
Mr. Poupore seems to have been well fitted for managing large
bodies of men and carrying on large enterprises. He is a native of
Pontiac, Canada, in the province of Quebec, where he was born
in 1860. When a youth only sixteen years of age he was placed
in charge of crews handling logs for the lumber market in Quebec.
His father and uncle were large lumbermen in Canada, employing
hundreds of hands. In those days trees would be felled, then
scored square and hewed smooth before rafting down the Ottawa
to Quebec, the great lumber port at that time. It was in those
early days Mr. Poupore obtained experience in the manipulation
of labor and whieh so eminently fitted him for bringing to sue-

" BIOGRAPHY 1085
cessful conclusions very many quite extensive enterprises under
taken by him in these latter times.
It was in 1881 when Mr. Poupore first found his way to the
vicinity of Grand Forks. His first attempt was at farming. He
bought and operated a quarter section of land for a few years, but
subsequently following the inclinations of his nature was soon
contracting for railroad jobs and other extensive enterprises.
The work of excavating streets, grading for railroads, building
county bridges, buying and selling large land estates for timber
purposes, has been, with the exception of a few years in political
life, the work he has been called to do since coming to this part
of North Dakota. In 1882 to 1891 he farmed extensively, working
one and three-quarter sections of his land on Forest river, in the
county of Grand Porks, and renting two quarter sections more
near Grand Porks. In one year he raised 29,870 bushels of wheat,
first grade, which sold for eighty-four cents per bushel, and aver
aging thirty-three and one-fourth bushels to the acre. From 1883
to 1904 he engaged extensively in the threshing business, wearing
out five costly threshing machines during that time. One year for
twelve days he averaged 2,990 bushels per day. The most he
ever threshed being 3,680 bushels in one day. In 1887 he began
railroad construction work, and as usual carried on that business
on a large scale. He was one of the promoters of the Grand Forks
Central Creamery and manager of the Poupore & Kennedy Brick
yard the first year of its establishment, both of which are men
tioned elsewhere in this work.
As a dealer in wood, he employed hundreds of men and in his
time bought and cleared several sections of land. This timber
land which he bought was railroad property on the Minnesota
side. His custom was to buy a section, employ 100 men or so,
reduce it to wood for fuel purposes and cart it to the city. As
many as 4,000 cords of wood would be cut and sold in one year.
In 1903 Mr. Poupore was elected county treasurer, and held
that office four years. In 1905 he was elected county commis
sioner, which position he still holds.
Mr. Poupore was married in 1885 to Miss Teresa Landon, of
Ottawa. Ten children have been born of this union, six of whom
have died.

1086 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
William J. Price, of Fargo, N. D., is president of the well
known Fargo Plumbing & Heating Company, which he estab
lished here in 1890, after having worked at the business for a
time in nearly all the principal cities of the United States. He
learned the plumbing and heating business, in the meantime
attending night school in Pittsburg, Pa., for three years, and upon
the expiration of his apprenticeship there he moved to Chicago as
his first venture, and from thence he traveled on, reaching Fargo
in the spring of 1889; he left again soon, however, and returned
in the fall of the same year, and that winter opened his present
plumbing and heating plant where he has since conducted a thriv
ing business.
Mr. Price was born in England, at Stockton-on-Tes, August
16, 1868, and was raised and received a common school education
in Bradford, Yorkshire, and while a youth in his teens emigrated
to the United States and located in Pittsburg, where he imme
diately set to work preparing himself for the independent business
career he has since followed. He was married on January 10,
1895, to Miss Alice M. Purcell, of Faulkton, S. D., and they are
the parents of three sons.
In political ideas Mr. Price has always been a Republican and
has served in various local offices with due respect to his party
and credit to himself and his electors. He was a member of the
board of education of Fargo for three years and active in all its
proceedings; he was a member of the board of trustees that
opened the school for the feeble minded at Grafton. In 1900 he
served as president of the North Dakota Firemen's Association,
and was elected as representative from the ninth district to the
eleventh legislative assembly.
Mr. Price is also a Mason of high degree, being a member of
all the bodies, both York Rite and Scottish Rite, and a Shriner,
and in the Fargo Lodge No. 260, Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks, he is past exalted ruler.
On general business topics, as on all matters of interest to his
town and county, Mr. Price's opinion is sought and treated with
the greatest respect, and he is considered one of the leading
citizens of Fargo.

BIOGRAPHY 1087
Thomas Hilliard Pugh is a wideawake member of the legal
profession at Larimore, N. D., and during twelve years of resi
dence there has risen to an honored place in his profession. He is
a native of Peterboro, Ontario, and was born July 6, 1868, to John
and Sarah Jane (Edger) Pugh. He acquired his preliminary edu
cation at Port Perry, Ontario, and spent four years teaching
school; he pursued his law studies in the office of Charles R.
Henry at AuSable, Mich., and in 1891 passed his examination and
was admitted to the bar of that state.
Mr. Pugh practiced his profession in Michigan some five years,
and in 1897 settled at Larimore, where he has since made his
home and established a lucrative practice. Mr. Pugh has devoted
himself to his profession, and is known as a careful, thorough
lawyer, a safe counsellor and an able advocate. He is actively
identified with the Masonic Order and also belongs to the Inde
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias.
On August 26, 1896, Mr. Pugh married at Alpena, Mich., Miss
Jessie, daughter of George and Mary Taylor, and they have three
children, viz. : Mary, Evadne, Thomas Douglas and Jessie Gayle.
Ole E. Reiersgord, editor of the "Ulen Union," has been a
resident of the village since 1898, when he purchased the printing
plant of Mr. E. J. Taylor. In 1909 he also purchased the ' ' Becker
County Journal," of Lake Park, Minn., and with the new machin
ery which he has lately purchased he is doing a lively business in-
Ulen in the printing line — his two papers having a circulation of
over 1,000.
Mr. Reiersgord was born in Norway, July 23, 1875, the son of
Even and Gwri E. (Bentehaugen) Reiersgord, who emigrated to
America when their son Ole was nine months old. They spent
their first year and a half in Houston county, Minnesota, and in
1878 moved into Clay county. Two years later they settled on
a homestead claim in Hagen township, where our subject received
his .common school education and worked on the farm. In 1890
he entered the Moorhead high school, where he spent three years,
leaving in his senior year to take a commercial course at the busi
ness college. He graduated from that institution with the class
of 1894, thoroughly equipped for an active business life, which he
has since followed. He taught school for about three years, prov-

1088 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ing a most successful teacher, and then entered into the publish
ing business, at whieh he has made a grand success. The circu
lation of the "Ulen Union" has greatly increased under his
management, as well as the "Becker County Journal," and as a
newspaper man he is methodical, up-to-date and second to none
in the business. His work in the job printing line cannot be ex
celled, and to keep pace with his increasing business he has
recently established the most modern facilities for handing a large
amount of printing, and his papers give full account of all public
matters of interest to the entire community.
Mr. Reiersgord is a public-spirited man, full of ambition and
energy, and always ready with his support in any movement for
better conditions in general. In 1902-3 he was a member of the
Clay county Republican committee, and in 1899 was elected to the
office of justice of the peace, whieh he filled till the spring of
1909 with perfect satisfaction. He is also a member of the board
of trustees of the village, and was village recorder for a number
of years: He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America
and of the United Lutheran church.
On January 3, 1897, Mr. Reiersgord and Miss Clara Bjerke, a
native of Minnesota, were married. Mrs. Reiersgord was born
September 9, 1878. Their childen are : Alice G., Erwin N., Cora
A., Lila M., and Ruben I., all living at home.
Even Olsen Reiersgaarden, the subject of this sketch, was born
December 1, 1851. His parents were Ole and Anne Olson, whose
homestead was a farm called Reiersgaarden, Hallingdal, Buskerud
Amt, Norway. Even Olsen received a good common school edu
cation in the schools held in the farm houses in terms of about six
weeks in each year during winter. He worked for various farmers
from six years of age until reaching his majority. He was nat
urally a brilliant pupil and always stood at the head of his class
both in school and at confirmation. He has one sister and two
brothers: Anne, the eldest of the family, still lives in Norway;
Ole was the third child and Torger the youngest. Ole came to
Clay county in 1881, where he lived until the spring of 1898, when
he died; Torger came to Clay county a few years later and still
resides here.
Mr. Even Reiersgaarden was married in Norway in 1874, to

BIOGRAPHY 1089
Miss Guri Ellingsen Bentehaugen. In 1875 their eldest son, Ole,
was born. Even left the same year for the United States, Mrs.
Reiersgaarden following in 1876. They located in Houston county,
Minnesota, where they lived about one year. In 1877 they came
to Clay county and lived one year with Bjorn Hendrickson, and
the following year he took up a tree claim in Section 10, in the
town of Ulen, but abandoned this claim and took up a homestead
in 1880 in Section 10 in the town of Hagen, and lived here for
more than twenty years. In March, 1888, his wife passed away,
leaving him with six small children, viz. : Ole, Annie, Ellen, Julius,
Carrie and Oluf , and for the next two years it was no small strug
gle for Mr. Reiersgaarden to keep and rear his children together
and at the same time improve his farm. In 1891 he married Miss
Julia Halvorson, who proved a good wife and mother to his chil-
circumstances, owning a whole section of land, well improved,
dren, and four more children were born, viz. : Edward, Gilbert,
Bertinus and Hilman. In 1898 Mrs. Reiersgaarden was seized
with diphtheria and died, but by this time they were left in better
with comfortable buildings. In 1902 Mr. Reiersgaarden bought a
house and some lots in Thief River Falls, and went there to live.
Two years later he bought 160 acres of land six miles northwest
from Thief River Palls, and here he lived for two years, and then
distributed his land among his children for a small consideration,
and lived in the vicinity of Ulen for two years more. In 1907 he
went to Sask, Canada, where he took up a homestead, and has
since lived alone. He is a man of excellent character and will
power, and in his face plainly shows the hardships and experi
ences of his earlier life. He was considered in Ulen one of the
best citizens in the community.
Luther B. Richardson was born at Cheshire, Berkshire county,
Mass., March 22, 1836. When he was five years old the family
moved to Plattsburg, N. Y., and later to Lowville, N. Y., where
Mr. Richardson lived until shortly before his removal to Grand
Forks in 1882. During this time he was engaged in financial and
real estate work, and he was a man of excellent standing in his
home town.
In 1882 he arrived in Grand Forks, in what was then Dakota
Territory. The town was small and new, but Mr. Richardson saw

1090 HISTORY" OF RED RIVER VALLEY"
the opportunities for growth Avhich existed, and he immediately
took up the work of aiding in the development of the western
country. He was one of the organizers of the Union National
Bank, and was later elected its president, a position which he
held until he insisted on being relieved in order that he might
devote more attention to his personal business, which had grown
to be very large. It was in no small measure due to his combina
tion of enterprise with prudence that the bank owed the pros
perity and stability which has always characterized it.
Mr. Richardson took great interest in public affairs and he
was an active member of the Republican party. He was appointed
secretary of the territory of North Dakota in 1889, and filled the
office with credit. He was mayor of the city of Grand Forks from
1890 to 1894, retiring in the early part of the latter year because
of failing health. His business experience and wisdom were of
great service to the city during this period, when many perplex
ing problems presented themselves for solution. He was a com
panionable man who made warm friends, but he was at all times,
nevertheless, a gentleman. His dignified, scholarly manner sur
prised many people who, on their western trips, had expected to
find only the raw and the uncouth. He died in Grand Forks on
July 20, 1901, leaving a widow and one son.
Samuel G. Roberts, of Fargo, N. D., who has borne an impor
tant part in the development and upbuilding of that city, was
born in Brooks, Me., March 10, 1843, and was reared and educated
in that state, supplementing the knowledge he acquired in the
common schools by an academic course. In 1861, at the opening
of the Civil War, he enlisted in Company B, Seventeenth Massa
chusetts Volunteer Infantry, and was in active service with that
regiment until August 10, 1864, when he was mustered out. Com
ing to Stillwater, Minn., he again enlisted, in 1865, in Company
A, Ninth United States Veteran Volunteers, known as Hancock's
Corps, and was with that command on guard duty at Washington,
D. C, and Indianapolis, Ind., for one year. During his previous
service he took part in the battles fought in North and South
Carolina, mostly small engagements, and was wounded at three
different times. He rose to the rank of first lieutenant.
After his final discharge, Mr. Roberts remained in Indian-

L. B. RICHARDSON

BIOGRAPHY 1091
apolis for over a year, and then returned to Minneapolis, where
he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1870. He was
engaged in practice there for two years, and then, in January,
1872, came to Fargo, N. D., taking up a quarter section of land
on which the city now stands. Forming a partnership with S.
G. Comstock, he engaged in the practice of law at Moorhead,
Minn., for some time, and then returned to Fargo, where he has
followed his chosen profession almost continuously since. He
was interested in the founding of the First National bank, and
was -one of its stockholders for years. He also assisted in start
ing the Fargo foundry and the Republican Newspaper Company,
which have since gone out of existence.
In October, 1872, Mr. Roberts married Mrs. Jennie Baldwin,
a native of Canada, and they have one daughter — Ruth, now
attending the state university. In his political views, Mr. Roberts
has been a life-long Republican, and assisted in organizing the
party in this state. He has ever taken an active and prominent
part in public affairs, serving as a member of the territorial coun
cil in 1879 and 1883, a member of the territorial committee on
emigration in 1875 and 1876, state's attorney for Cass county in
1877 and 1878, and county superintendent of schools for some
time in the. early 70 's. He also served as municipal judge during
the existence of that office in 1896, and has been a member of
the city council three terms, and city attorney three terms. He
is one of the public-spirited and enterprising men of Fargo, and
has proved a very popular official.
Albert P. Rounsevell, who ranks among the leading physicians
and surgeons of Grand Porks county, North Dakota, is a native
of Tompkins county, New York, and a son of Nelson and Betsey
(Patch) Rounsevell. He acquired a good English education in the
public schools and at the Courtlandville (New York) Academy,
and fitted himself for his professional work at the Philadelphia
College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Rush Medical College,
Chicago. Dr. Rounsevell began his professional life at Elysian, Minn.,
in 1871. In 1873 he went to Ontonagon, Mich., and practiced
there till 1877. The next year he went to Delano, Minn., and
practiced till 1882, and then removed to Larimore, and established

1092 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
the practice which has engaged his attention during the past
twenty-seven years. Dr. Rounsevell has been eminently success
ful in his professional work and attained a name and place among
his professional brethren of which he may justly be proud.
Prom 1884 to 1903 Dr. Rounsevell served continuously as
coroner of Grand Forks county, and since January, 1907, to the
present time — 1909, has filled the same office. He is actively
identified with numerous fraternal and patriotic organizations;
being prominent in the Masonic order; past chancellor, Knights
of Pythias; past chief ranger, Independent Order of Foresters;
high physician of high court of Foresters; past commander of
Appomattox Post No. 24, Grand Army of the Republic, and was
department commander in 1895-96.
In 1873 Dr. Rounsevell married Miss Flora F., daughter of
J. C. York and Elizabeth (Ward) York, at St. Peter, Minn., and
they have three children, viz. : Arthur H., Fred L., and Guy K.
Mathias Runck, a retired farmer of Casselton, N. D., is a native
of Luxemberg, Germany, was born January 1, 1843. In 1868 he
came to this country and settled in Winona county, Minnesota.
He later purchased and settled on a farm in Waseca county,
Minnesota, and lived there till 1882, meantime, in 1880, buying
from the Northern Pacific Railroad Company a tract of land in
Maple River township, Cass county, North Dakota, which formed
the nucleus of what is widely known as one of the finest and
best improved farms in the Red River valley. Moving hither in
1882, Mr. Runck was one of the pioneer settlers of the county, and
has been active in developing the resources of the county and
making it, as it is, the garden spot of the state.
Mr. Runck has always been a hard worker, and by his in
dustry and thrift and wise foresight has been enabled to add to
his original purchase, and now owns more than a thousand acres
of the most fertile and productive land in Cass county. Mr.
Runck having retired from the farm, to his beautiful home in
Casselton, the place is successfully carried on by his son, Joseph,
a wide-awake, practical and up to date farmer, who received a
practical education at the Fargo Agricultural College, and to
gether with his brother, John, was one of the first students of
that institution in its early days.

I BIOGRAPHY 1093
Mr. Runck was married in 1873, and of five children born the
eldest, Rosa, conducts a millinery establishment at Dickinson, N.
D. ; Joseph carries on his father 's farm ; John and Nicholas con
duct a general store, including farm machinery, at Kathryn, N.
D., and Anna is married to Mr. Andrew Tahmert, a farmer of
Pratt, Minn.
Mr. Runck has been prominent in local affairs. He assisted
in the organization of the township, has served as chairman of
the town board, and for some years was town treasurer. Since
living in Casselton Mr. Runck has acquired considerable city
property, and is actively engaged in improving and beautifying
the same, and it already yields him a handsome income. He is
also interested in one of the local banks and is one of its directors.
In political sentiment he is a Democrat; and with his family,
in religious faith affiliates with the Catholic Church.
Hans Rushfeldt, a substantial business man of Hawley, Clay
county, Minnesota, who has aided in its development, was born
in Norway, October 5, 1849. He acquired a limited education in
his native land and when twenty years old, in 1869, came to this
country with his family. He began work on a construction train
in southern Minnesota in 1870, and the next year, with his parents
and two brothers, came with ox teams to the Red River valley,
and for four years engaged in railroad work on contracts at
Hawley, Glynden and other sections.
In 1875 he went to Black Hills and spent several months
hauling freight with ox teams, from Bismarck, N. D., to that
place. Tiring of the hardships of the frontier life he returned to
Clay county and proved up his homestead and tree claim, and
until 1880 cultivated his land. He then left the farm, and moved
to Hawley, — then a hamlet of 100 inhabitants, with two stores, —
and opened a hardware store, adding farm machinery and imple
ments a little later.
The business thus started has since been conducted under
various firm names; first Rushfeldt, Southwell & Co., which in
1886 was changed by the sale of Mr. Southwell's interest to N.
Nelson and Charles Miller to Rushfeldt & Co. The business
developed with the growth of the town, new lines being added
from time to time, comprising light and heavy hardware, farm

1094 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
implements and machinery of all kinds, and a full line of house
hold furniture.
In 1905-6 the firm name was Rushfeldt & Nelson, but again
changed in 1907 to Rushfeldt & Burrill, under which the ex
tensive business is now (1909) conducted. Mr. Rushfeldt is also
president of the Hawley Mercantile Company, also of the Hawley
Cemetery Association, holds an interest in the flouring mill, and
is director of the State Bank of Hawley.
He has been active in fraternal and benevolent organizations
many years. In 1888 he became a charter member of Twilight
Lodge No. 142, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has
passed through all the various chairs. He is also a member of
the Yeomen.
He has always been a staunch Republican and has been active
in the local councils of his party, and in 1906 was elected treas
urer of Clay county. His religious affiliations are with the Nor
wegian Lutheran Church, which he has served as trustee and
on various committees.
On January 13, 1882, Mr. Rushfeldt married Miss Helen, a
daughter of the late Bernard Olson, of  . Mr.
and Mrs. Rushfeldt celebrated their silver wedding in 1907. Of
nine chUdren born to them, Eleanor, the eldest, a graduate of
the High and Normal schools, is now a teacher. Elisa is a student
at the State University; Albert is attending the Business College
at Fargo ; Helen is a student in Hawley High School, as are also
Alma and Ruth, while three younger children, Agnes, Nina and
Harry, are pupils in the grammar school.
George Clinton Russell, of Inkster, N. D., was born at Fort
Covington, N. Y., May 14, 1876. His ancestors came from Eng
land at about the time of the Revolution.
Luther S. Russell, father of George C, was one of the first
settlers of this vicinity. Arriving in the spring of 1882, he settled
on the Forest river. He was the leader of the first brass band
organized in the city of Grand Forks.
George C. received his education in the graded schools of
Inkster, and at the East Side High School of Minneapolis, grad
uating from the latter on June 4, 1906. He first came to Inkster
in 1886 with his parents, remaining six years, then went to Min-

BIOGRAPHY 1095
neapolis in 1892, returning to Inkster in 1898. July 15, 1902, he
engaged in the men's furnishing business, in which he met with
success. Mr. Russell has served his home town in an official
capacity, having filled the office of justice of the peace from 1902
to 1906, has been city auditor from April, 1905, to the present
time, and has been clerk of Inkster School District No. 103, from
July, 1905. He is district deputy grand master, I. O. O. F., and
treasurer of Brown Lodge No. 63, I. O. 0. F., of Inkster.
On May 25, 1903, Mr. Russell was married to Miss Dora A.
Mooney. They have two children, George Irving, born July 19,
1904, and Mary Louise, born May 16, 1907.
Samuel W. Rutledge, M. D., was born on December 31, 1852,
at the village of Bellefontaine, Ohio. He was the son of Thomas
Rutledge, who moved the family to Minnesota, settling near
Rochester when Samuel was two years old, and when in early
manhood he took up the study of medicine, graduating from the
Homeopathic Medical College of Missouri at St. Louis in 1876.
He practiced for some time at Cresco, Iowa, where he married
Miss Mirian Fuller, who survives him.
In 1881 the young couple came to Grand Forks and have
been residents of the city since that time. There were born to
them three children, a son who died in infancy, and two daugh
ters, Ruby, who is the wife of Dr. P. J. Roberts, of Cando, N. D.,
and Georgia, who is at home with her mother. Dr. Rutledge 's
mother died some years ago, hut his father is still (1908) living,
making his home in Cando.
Dr. Rutledge was one of the early physicians of Grand Porks,
and first of the Homeopathic School. He was well and favorably
known and a trusted friend and advisor. He held an honorable
place in the profession and was a member of the state and other
official boards. His death occurred February 3, 1907.
Andrew Sandager, of Lisbon, Ransom county, North Dakota,
has been one of the principal promoters and developers of this
place. For many years he has been president of the State Bank
of Lisbon, the senior partner of the general merchandise firm of
Sandager & Hangan, and for many years connected with the
Enterprise Milling Company.
Mr. Sandager was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, August

1096 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
31, 1862, and was the fourth in a family of eight children born
to Endre P. and Ragnil (Hanse) Sandager, both natives of Nor
way, and settled on the old homestead in Iowa, where the mother
is still living. At the age of sixteen, Mr. Sandager entered a
drug store in Decorah, Iowa, and became a registered pharmacist.
The first business of which he took charge was a drug store in
Madison, South Dakota. He stayed here about two years, and
went to Grafton, North Dakota, in the fall of 1881, and with a
brother engaged in the general merchandise business until 1884,
and then purchased an interest in a general merchandise business
in Lisbon, which he still retains. In 1890 the State Bank of Lis
bon was organized with Mr. Sandager as shareholder, director
and later president. Three years later the Enterprise Milling
Company was formed and the mill was erected and put in active
operation, which proved a great success from the outset, it being
surrounded by a country unsurpassed for its quality of wheat,
and the mill thoroughly equipped with all the facilities for han
dling a vast amount of business.
Besides his interests in the above enterprises, Mr. Sandager
has attained no little prominence in the political world. He was
a member of the constitutional convention of 1889, and took a
seat in the senate in the first session of the legislature, and as a
delegate to state conventions he became thoroughly identified
with the political interests of the state. He is prominent in secret
society circles, and is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the An
cient Order of United Workmen, the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.
Mr. Sandager has aided materially in the upbuilding of the
city, and its present name as a beautiful residence and business
place is due largely to his labors and influence. He owns a tract
of twenty-five acres of land close to the main street, ten acres of
which he donated to the city for a park, and Sandager Park is
one of the most pleasant little retreats in the state.
E. Y. Sarles, the ninth governor of North Dakota (1905-1907),
was born at Wonewoc, Juneau county, Wis., January 15, 1859.
He was the third son of Rev. Jesse D. and Margaret Thompson
Sarles, who came to Racine county, Wis., from New York state
in 1842. E. Y. Sarles received his education at the public schools

BIOGRAPHY 1097
at Prescott and Sparta, Wis., the Galesville (Wis.) University.
Por two years he was bank clerk in Prescott and one year bank
clerk in Sparta ; at the age of twenty he was secretary and treas
urer of the Wonewoc Wagon Manufacturing Company, which
position he held for two years, moving to Hillsboro, N. D., in
May, 1881, engaging with his brother, 0. C. Sarles, in the bank
ing and lumber business. In 1885 he and his brother (0. C.
Sarles) organized the First National Bank of Hillsboro, and
afterward started the banks at Grandin, Caledonia and Shelly,
and is A'iee-presideht and director of the First National Bank of
Northwood, N. D. He has two brothers and two sisters living,
namely: 0. C. Sarles, of Hillsboro, and Dr. W. T. Sarles, of
Sparta, Wis. ; Mrs. H. A. Stillman, of Joliet, 111., and Mrs. D. S.
Clark, of Eau Claire, Wis. His family consists of a wife (Anna
York Sarles) ; Earle R., born October 1, 1886; Duane York and
Doris York Sarles, born May 14, 1895, and Eleanor, born Feb
ruary 11, 1899. Mr. Sarles is, a thirty-second degree Mason and
is the Exalted Ruler of the Grand Forks Lodge of Elks, and is
also a Knight of Pythias.
Mark Tunis Scarff, president of the Michigan City bank, of
Michigan City, N. D., is one of the oldest and most substantial
citizens of Nelson county. His native town is New Carlisle,
Ohio, where he was born on April 5, 1855, reared and educated
in the public schools. His parents are John J. and Mary E.
Scarff. His father Avas born in January, 1825, in Virginia, and
moved to NeAV Carlisle, Ohio, at the age of eight years, where
he has since lived, and at this time (1909) is enjoying good
health. Mrs. Scarff was born in April, 1830, in the state of Penn
sylvania, and moved to Ohio at the age of six years. She, too,
is living at their home in New Carlisle.
Mark T. Scarff, as his first venture on his own account, started
for California with $35.00 to the good. When he landed there
he worked for one year on a , fruit ranch, and then rented a
small fruit ranch, where he made his first thousand dollars, and
success crowned his efforts generally from that time on. He
came to Nelson county in 1882, and to Bartlet, N. D., when that
town consisted of only two tar-papered shanties, and three
months hence it Avas a town of 1,500 inhabitants, which three

1098 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
months later was destroyed by fire. After some, considerable
search for a substantial location he settled in Michigan City in
1883, where he engaged in the hardware business, and in 1893
he organized the Michigan City bank, of which he has since
been president. Besides his banking interests Mr. Scarff engaged
in the hardware business, which he followed for a number of
years, and also owns and has farmed some 1,500 acres of highly
improved North Dakota farm land.
In 1885 Mr. Scarff married Miss Allie Warren, of Minneapolis,
Minn., who died in the following year. In 1893 he married Miss
Nannie Shigley. Mr. and Mrs. Scarff have one child, Mark Tunis
Scarff, Jr.
Mr. Scarff has always been a Republican in politics, but
would never accept a public office above local duty, such as school
and city treasurer, of which he has served for many years. He is
a Master and Royal Arch Mason, and a trustee of the Congrega
tional Church.
Mr. Scarff attended the first meeting of the board of county
commissioners when Nelson county was organized. This meet
ing was held under a tent where Lakota now stands, and his Avas
the first vote cast in Michigan City township. Mr. Scarff was
also the first subscriber to the first paper published in Nelson
county. Edward Carl Schroeder, who is widely known as one of the
most wide-awake and thorough business men in the Red River
valley, has attained his high position by faithful and intelligent
work and honorable methods. He is a son of Henry Schroeder,
who is known as the "Potato King," and was. born in Elmwood
township, six miles from his present home, on June 14, 1880. He
grew up on his father's farm and acquired his primary education
in the district schools. Later he attended the Concordia College
at St. Paul, and also took a commercial course at Fargo.
After leaving school he traveled for his father some four
years and when twenty-two years old in 1902, began farming on
his own account, on what, under his skillful and practical man
agement, has come to be known as one of the model farms of the
Northwest, located six miles east of Fargo, N. D., and tliree
miles west of Glyndon, at Watts, in Clay county, Minnesota; it

BIOGRAPHY 1099
comprises 500 acres of fertile land most favorably situated as to
shipping privileges, and is improved with an elegant and com
modious dwelling house and barns and out-buildings to cor
respond, and equipped with every variety of machinery and
implements required in operating an up to date farm.
Mr. E. C. Schroeder cultivates as high as 260 acres of potatoes,
his specialty being "Early Ohios" and "Bliss Triumphs." By
an intelligent system of experimenting with change of ^eed he
keeps his products up to a high standard, and is constantly mak
ing new discoveries and improvements, being in touch with the
experimental stations throughout the country. He not only deals
in his own products, but also buys vast quantities from other
growers, and in 1908 shipped more than 220 car loads of potatoes
for seed purposes, into the states of Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas,
Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky, and ten
or twelve other states.
Mr. Schroeder also devotes much attention to dairying and
to the breeding of pure blood cattle, and his splendid herd of
some 100 Holsteins have made his name famous as a producer and
shipper of milk. He is also interested in breeding pure bred
Percheron horses.
Mr. Schroeder is also largely interested in horticulture and
tree culture, and his beautiful home, where he has growing, of
his own planting, 35,000 trees, both for protection and ornament,
is one of the wonder places of the valley. In his orchard he has
several hundreds of apple, plum and cherry trees, all healthy
and thrifty, and besides has a small vineyard and a variety of
small fruits. Mr. Schroeder, though a young man, has accom
plished vast results during the seven years he has been operating
this farm, and is counted among the most clear-headed, far-
sighted and progressive business men of the Red River valley.
In 1902 he married Miss Magdalena, daughter of Bendix
Kuehl, who was born in Germany, but who came to this country
with her family when she was ten years old. Of four children
born to them the first, Luella, #nd the second, Helen, are de
ceased. The other two are named respectively, Irene and Edward
Carl, Jr.
Henry Schroeder, who is a native of Rendsburg, Holstein,

1100 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Germany, was born August 31, 1855, and is a son of Henry and
Wilhelmine (May) Schroeder. He acquired his education in his
native land, and when about sixteen years old, in 1871, came to
the United States, and settled at Alexandria, Minn., whence he
moved to Clay county, in 1878, settling on a tree claim of 160
acres, near the town of Sabin.
Early discovering the productiveness of the soil in the locality,
and its adaptability to the growing of potatoes, Mr. Schroeder,
beginning on a moderate scale, increased his acreage of seed
potatoes from year to year, and soon became known as a potato
king. With the passing years his reputation as an expert in his
special line of farming brought greater demands for his products,
and although he made the potato the principal crop of his grad
ually increasing acres, he found himself hardly able to supply
the great and constantly growing demand made upon him.
Mr. Schroeder, rich in farm lands and city realty, cultivates
2,000 acres of ground, of which one-third is devoted to growing
seed potatoes. In this connection it is proper to state, that
through Mr. Schroeder 's influence, and under his advice, his two
sons, Edward C. Schroeder, whose sketch appears in this work,
and Theodore Schroeder, both men of influence and high stand
ing, have become widely known as successful potato growers and
shippers; and that the combined acreage of father and sons, of
700 acres, in 1908, yielded 109,000 bushels of the famous early
Ohios and Triumphs, which were shipped to distant markets
throughout the southern states, to Alaska, and other northern
points. During those years of activity Mr. Schroeder has made
his specialty a subject of constant study and experiments, with
the result that he has become and is recognized as an authority
on potato culture throughout the Red River valley and in regions
far beyond and has justly earned the soubriquet of "Potato
King," commonly applied to him, and it also is to his enterpris
ing and prosperous sons.
Mr. Schroeder is a public-spirited citizen and is ready always
to advocate and help along any enterprise or cause looking to
the welfare and progress of his community, and is ready to back
his actions and his words with his money. He has always been
a hard worker and richly merits the success that has come to him

BIOGRAPHY 1101
as the result of his intelligent, well-directed and honorable
endeavors. While there has accrued to him a handsome fortune as the
fruit of his frugality, enterprise and thrift, he is a man of un
selfish motives, and is rightly classed among the men whose firm
faith in the future of Clay county and whose untiring work in
developing its resources, have given to the Red River valley the
far-reaching and enviable fame for the fertility and productive
ness of its soil, and the thrift and enterprise of its citizens, it
everywhere enjoys.
Mr. Schroeder is vice-president of the State bank, at Sabin,
and a director of the First National Bank of Moorhead, and is
rightly regarded one of the strong financial men of Clay county.
John W. Scott, who has been a public official of Grand Forks
county, North Dakota, is a native of Ontario, Canada, and was
born October 21, 1849, and is one of a family of four sons, born
to George and Elizabeth (Noyes) Scott. The father emigrated
from Ireland, his native land, in 1835, and settled in Canada,
where he died.
John W. moved to Wisconsin with his mother and younger
brother when young, and grew up on a farm. He was engaged
in farming in Wisconsin tiU he was thirty years old, and in 1879
removed to Grand Forks county with his family, and settled on a
quarter section homestead claim, fifty miles from a railroad,
which he improved and converted into one of the model farms
of that region.
Mr. Scott interested himself in public affairs soon after set
tling in his new home, and as a staunch Republican, became
active in local affairs of his party. In 1881 he was elected county
commissioner, the first commissioner elected from the Fifth dis
trict. Three years later he was elected to the general assembly
of the then territory of Dakota, and served one term. Mr. Scott
remained on his farm till 1892, when he was elected auditor of
Grand Forks county, and moved into the city. If anything were
needed to show Mr. Scott's popularity, and the high esteem in
which he is held by his fellow citizens, the fact of his continuous
holding of this office by repeated re-elections, since 1892, a period
of eight years, would speak louder than any words of commenda-

1102 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
tion. He was an efficient and faithful public servant, and the
confidence of the community in him is unbounded. Mr. Scott
has prospered in his affairs and in addition to his finely equipped
farm, where he first settled, nearly thirty years ago, and now
resides, he has added by purchase, 640 acres, and has at present
900 acres under extra high state of cultivation.
In 1875 Mr. Scott married Miss Ella Harshman, who died in
1891. Of eight children born to them, those surviving are : Roy,
Charles, George, Ruth and Harry.
In 1895 Mr. Scott married Miss Hannah Varner, of Jordan,
Minn., and they have four children, viz. : Hannah, Leona, Ada
and John W.
Mr. Scott had little advantages in the way of schooling, and
acquired his education outside of school rooms, and learned to
write by going to night writing school, years after he had to quit
school to make a living and help support his mother and younger
brothers. James H. Sharp, judge of Clay county, and one of the editors
of the "History of the Red River Valley," was born and raised
on a farm in western Pennsylvania, and is one of six brothers,
who served in the Civil War. In 1870, taking Horace Greeley's
advice to young men, to go west, he came to Minnesota, and in
October, 1871, located in Moorhead, where he has resided ever
since. In 1872 he opened the first dry goods store in either Fargo
or Moorhead, and was successful in business until 1891, when he
was unfortunate in losing everything except the courage with
which he started over again. Mr. Sharp has always stood for the
best things, and has taken an active and intelligent interest in
school work, having served thirty-three years continuously on
the board of education, and was in 1904 elected president of the
State School Board Association, and has earned the reputation
of making good in every position he has occupied. He is serving
his fifth term as judge of probate in Clay county, and has always
been identified with the interests and improvements of his town
and county.
Judge Sharp has an interesting family of nine children, and is
considered one of the best citizens of the county.

BIOGRAPHY 1103
Halvor L. Shirley, leading banker and business man of Breck
enridge, Wilkin county, Minnesota, was born in 1862, in Solor,
Norway. His parents emigrated to America, in 1869, settling in
Winnesheik county, Iowa. Ten years later the family moved to
Minnesota, locating near the present village of Rothsay, in
Wilkin county.
Our subject acquired his education in the district schools and
grew up on his father's farm. In 1888 he moved to the village
of Rothsay, and served as grain buyer for an elevator company.
In the fall of 1890 he was elected register of deeds of Wilkin
county, and subsequently moved to Breckenridge, the county
seat. He was re-elected to this office five times, serving in all
as register of deeds, twelve years. In 1902 he became interested
in the Merchants' State Bank of Breckenridge, and was made its
cashier. Later he became the president of this bank. In 1907
the business of this bank was absorbed and taken over by the
First National Bank of Breckenridge. Mr. Shirley was chosen
vice-president, and placed in active charge of this bank; Mr. F.
E. Kenaston, of Minneapolis, an old resident of Breckenridge,
being its president. The First National Bank of Breckenridge is
the oldest and largest bank in the county, with a surplus and
capital of $70,000, and is a thoroughly substantial institution in
its line, doing a large and profitable business.
Mr. Shirley is also heavily interested in farm lands and city
property. In 1907, Avhen the city of Breckenridge was incor
porated, he was elected without opposition, its first mayor, and
he is now serving his third term. Many valuable reforms have
been inaugurated under his administration, among which have
been the raising of the liquor license fee from $500 to $1,000,
and strict enforcement of the laws regulating its traffic. The
saloons have been reduced in number, and the business is being
conducted along legitimate lines. The city's credit has been
built up, and all floating debt funded, and approximately $20,000,
paid off on the indebtedness in three years. The city is now pre
paring to install a modern filtration system of its water supply,
and great progress is the achievement along many other lines in
the city.

1104 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY"
Mr. Shirley has served as a member of the board of education
of his city for more than ten years, and is its present treasurer.
A Democrat in politics, he has been active in the council of his
party in many conventions, and is at present an executive com
mittee member of his party, in Minnesota. In 1902 he was the
candidate of his party for state treasurer. Was one of the dele
gates of the state, in 1908, to the National Democratic Convention,
at Denver. He is also actively identified with the Masonic and
other fraternal societies.
Mr. Shirley was married in 1886 to Miss Bertha Kaupang, of
Nicollet county, Minnesota. This union has been a happy one,
and has been blessed with six children, named in order of their
birth, Louis, John, Clara, Alma, Halbert and Earl. They own
a beautiful home in the city of Breckenridge, where the hosts of
friends of the family are always hospitably received.
Ole Skalet is one of the substantial and self-made men of
Clay county, Minnesota. A native of Houston county, he was
born October 14, 1861, and is one of a family of eleven children
born to Knut and Helga Skalet, who were among the pioneer set
tlers of southeastern Minnesota.
Ole grew to manhood on his father's farm and acquired such
education as the district schools of the time afforded, and after
attaining his majority in 1883 located a homestead claim of 160
acres and a tree claim of forty acres in Keene township, Clay
county, and lived there two years in a frame shack fourteen by
sixteen feet, with seven-foot posts and sod roof. This was after
wards enlarged and the sod replaced by a shingle roof, and other
improvements made as necessity required. The farm is espe
cially adapted to raising small grains and yields an average of
fifteen bushels of wheat and thirty-five bushels of oats per acre.
There are now on the place one wheat granary, with a capacity
of 2,500 bushels and two oats granaries with a capacity of 2,800
bushels. Mr. Skalet lived on his farm till 1901, and while there served
as assessor of the township, chairman of the town board, and for
three years as school director.
After leaving his farm he was for a time proprietor of a res
taurant in the village of Felton, but soon sold it and settled in

BIOGRAPHY 1105
i
Ulen, where, in addition to looking after his personal affairs, he
has been agent of the Monarch Elevator Company of Minneapolis,
handling annually more than 100,000 bushels of grain. The ele
vator has a capacity of 20,000 bushels, and an average output of
seventy-five cars.
Prior to 1908 Mr. Skalet was engaged in general merchandis
ing for eighteen months, and then sold out to Mr. C. M. Bakkum.
He served as president of the village from 1907 to 1909, and dur
ing his term of office numerous street improvements were made.
He is now president of the Ulen Farm Telephone Company, and
as a wideawake public-spirited citizen takes an interest in what
ever relates to the betterment of the community.
On January 12, 1885, he married Miss Martina Martinson, a
daughter of one of the pioneers of Ulen, and fifteen children were
born to them, seven sons and eight daughters ; nine are now living.
Bardi G. Skulason. — Mr. Skulason, the subject of this sketch,
Avas born in the northern part of Iceland, January 19, 1871, and
immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1876. They
came by way of Quebec and the Great Lakes and the Great
Northern from Duluth to its then terminus, Fisher's Landing,
what is now Fisher, Minn. At the latter place the immigrants
were put on board river boats and carried to Winnipeg. His par
ents lived in Manitoba until July, 1880, when they moved to Pem
bina county, settling on a farm about a mile and a half north of
Mountain, where his father still resides on the old farm. During
the four years' stay in Manitoba everythmg was lost, and the
family came to North Dakota very poor. In January of that year
Mr. Skulason began teaching school in Pembina county, and on
October 31 of the same year he entered the preparatory depart
ment of the State University at Grand Forks. His father was
unable to give any pecuniary assistance during his attendance at
the university, so that he was obliged to work his way through
by teaching school in vacations, selling books and threshing in the
fall. This usually resulted in the loss of the fall term at the uni
versity, but he managed to keep up with his class and graduated
in 1895 with the degree of B. A. from the classical course, and
finished at the same time the normal course and received a normal
diploma. In the fall of 1895 he was elected principal of the

1106 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Tower City schools, in Cass county, and at the same time began
the study of law. In the spring of 1896 he resigned his position
at Tower City and accepted the position of principal of the public
schools at Hillsboro, which position he held until the spring of
1897, in the meantime reading law in the evenings, when he again
resigned and devoted the spring and summer to the study of law.
On September 13, 1897, he was admitted to the bar at Fargo, upon
an examination before the supreme court, immediately after
which he opened an office at Grand Forks, where he has been
practicing ever since.
Mr. Skulason was instrumental in founding the Icelandic Li
brary at the State University and is president of that association.
He is an able speaker and during the last fifteen years has spoken
all over the state.
September 11, 1896, he was married to Charlotte L. Robinson,
of Coal Harbor, McLean county. They have two children, a boy,
born October 9, 1900, named Rolfe W., and a girl, born July 9,
1904, named Dagmar A.
Since about the opening of the law department of the State
University in 1899, he has been connected with the law school in
the capacity of lecturer on private corporations, with occasional
lectures on other subjects. He has been assistant state's attorney
of Grand Porks county since December, 1902. In November, 1908,
he was elected to the state legislature as a Republican from the
sixth legislative district and served in the house of representa
tives of the eleventh assembly.
Peder Sliper, is the oldest settler that settled and remained on
his farm in Ulen township. He was born in Norway, May 3, 1842,
and emigrated to the United States in 1866. After the close of
the Civil War he settled in Houston county, Minnesota, in the
township of Spring Grove. His father, Nels Sliper, and mother,
Jocomina Sliper, came to the United States in 1868. Peder Sliper
was married on January 6, 1867, to Miss Ellen Tatley, who was
born in Norway, March 9, 1846, the daughter of Johanes Tatly.
Mr. Sliper spent the first two years of his life in America in
Spring Grove, with his wife, where he farmed it with little suc
cess, and they decided to move to Iowa. They lived there until
1871 and again took up their belongings and crossed overland to

BIOGRAPHY 1107
Clay county, Minnesota, and settled in the town of Goose Prairie,
where they lived about three years, and in 1874 took up a pre
emption claim in Ulen township, and here he has continued to
live ever since. His first four years' crops were taken by grass
hoppers; he lived in the log house which he built in the spring
of 1874 and was burned the following February 6. The next
spring he erected his present residence, which was then fourteen
by sixteen, to which he has since added more room. His daugh
ter, Miss Caroline Sliper, was born January 16, 1875, and was the
first white child born in Ulen township. Mr. and Mrs. Sliper now
contemplate the erection of a fine new residence of which the
foundation is already laid. Their farm now consists of about
440 acres, with some 140 acres under cultivation; a beautiful
country home that cannot be surpassed by any in the county. Mr.
and Mrs. Sliper celebrated their silver wedding in 1892, the first
event of the kind in Ulen township. They are the parents of
nine children, eight of whom are living. Their religious affilia
tions are with the United Lutheran church, of which Mr. Sliper
is trustee and sexton.
Mr. Sliper is a man of shrewd management, a good neighbor
and friend, and is considered one of the most prosperous and pro
gressive citizens of his neighborhood.
At the time that their house was burned, as mentioned in the
above sketch, the weather was bitterly cold and the children were
hastily wrapped up in whatever was handy and carried to the log
stable for safety. When the excitement of the fire was over, it
was discovered that Caroline was badly frozen, but by wrapping
her in cotton and with careful nursing she entirely recovered.
Otto Sougstad, secretary and treasurer of the Northwood
Hardware Company, Northwood, N. D., is a native of Christiania,
Norway, was born March 23, 1876, son of Johannes E. and Inge
borg (Laond) Sougstad. Parents were both natives of Norway
and were descendants from a long line of farmers. Our subject
attended the schools of his native town, and after coming to the
United States in 1885 studied in the common and high schools of
Belmond, Iowa, and at the Business College of LaCrosse, Wis.
After finishing his studies he was employed for several years
by different mercantile concerns, and after gaining a practical

1108 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
business training, in July, 1895, he came to Northwood, N. D.,
and was employed for eleven years by Nick Halverson. During
the Spanish- American War he enlisted in Company L, Thirteenth
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served for two years in the
Philippine campaign, and rose from the ranks to be first sergeant
of his company, which position he held at the time of his dis
charge. He also served as clerk of the provost court at Manila,
P. I. After his return he served as chief clerk of the North Da
kota house of representatives, session of 1905, and as assistant
chief clerk in the session of 1907, was elected city judge in 1901
and served two years ; was appointed city assessor in 1907.
He was married to Miss Ida Johnston, daughter of Paul C.
Johnston, merchant of Northwood, N. D., on March 2, 1901, and
now (1908) they are the parents of two children, named Palmer
Joseph, age six years, and Irene Sophia, age one and a half years.
Burleigh Folsom Spaulding, associate justice of the North
Dakota supreme court, was born December 3, 1853, in Craftes-
bury, Vt. His parents were Benjamin Pendell Spaulding and
Ann (Folsom) Spaulding. His father was a Methodist clergyman
in Vermont and New Hampshire and died in Fargo in 1906. The
subject of the sketch is a descendant of the eighth generation
from Edward Spaulding, who migrated from England to James
town in 1619, and thence to Massachusetts in 1630; and is also
a descendant of the eighth generation from John Folsom, who
came from England to Massachusetts in 1638.
Judge Spaulding received his education in the common schools,
Lyndon Literary Institute, Lyndon, Vt., and Norwich University,
Norwich, Vt., graduating from there in 1887. He left home when
eleven years of age and worked on a farm for his board, clothes
and three months school per year until sixteen years. For the
next four years he worked in a country store, going to school
for three months each winter and working nights and mornings.
He had decided in the meantime to get an education and attended
the Lyndon institute and later Norwich University, paying his
way by teaching, working on a farm and canvassing for books
during vacation. He was principal of Albany Academy in 1877-8,
and then read law in Montpelier, Vt., paying his expenses by

BIOGRAPHY 1109
serving as a clerk in the legislature, by canvassing and in other
ways. He was admitted to the bar in Vermont in March, 1880,
and on March 31, 1880, arrived in Fargo, N. D., where he has
resided ever since. In May, 1880, he entered into a law partner
ship with S. G. Roberts. In 1881 C. F. Templeton, now Judge
Templeton, succeeded Mr. Roberts and continued in partnership
with Mr. Spaulding until 1877, when Judge Templeton was ap
pointed to the bench. The firm has since been successively New
man, Spaulding & Phelps, Newman & Spaulding, Newman, Spauld
ing & Stambaugh, and last Spaulding & Stambaugh.
Judge Spaulding has always been an active member of the
Republican party, and was chairman of the Republican state cen
tral committee in 1892-4. He was largely instrumental in organ
izing the Republican Good Government League of North Dakota
and served as its chairman until appointed to the supreme bench
in 1907. Mr. Spaulding served the people of Cass county as superin
tendent of schools in 1882-4, but declined a renomination. He
was a member of the constitutional convention in 1889. He was
nominated by the Republicans and elected in 1898 to the fifty-
sixth congress. In 1900 he was tendered a renomination if he
would support a certain slate being made up. He declined to
accept the terms and the nomination went to Mr. Marshall. In
1900 he was again nominated and elected to the fifty-eighth con
gress. In 1902 a combination was effected which resulted in the
nomination of Mr. Gronna to succeed him. While in congress
Mr. Spaulding served on the committees on banking and currency,
war claims and territories. One term he Avas chairman of the
sub-committee having in charge revision of the laws relating to
Alaska, and of several other important sub-committees. He was
also a member of the sub-committee which drafted the statehood
bill. He secured the adoption of an amendment to the appor
tionment bill giving North Dakota two representatives instead of
one. He was instrumental in securing a reduction of the tariff
rate between Porto Rico and this country to fifteen per cent of
the Dingley rate. He passed the bill in the house opening the
Fort Buford reservation to settlement, adding half a million acres
to the available farming land of the state. This was said to be

1110 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
the most important bill any new member secured during the fifty-
sixth congress.
On February 1, 1907, he was appointed judge of the supreme
court without solicitation on his part, and is filling this high
office with distinguished credit to himself and the commonwealth.
Judge Spaulding was one of the organizers and is still a
director of the Merchants National Bank of Fargo. He is a thirty-
third degree Scottish Rite Mason, a noble of the A. A. 0. M.
Shrine, and is a member of the Elks and the University and Com
mercial Clubs of Fargo and the University Club of Washington.
He was married November 25, 1880, to Miss Alida Baker, daugh
ter of David and Emily Cutler Baker. Five children have been
born to them: Deane Baker, Prances Polsom, Roscoe Conklin,
Burleigh Mason and Carlton Cutler Spaulding.
William Spriggs, who is a native of Elyria, Ohio, was born
July 3, 1863, and is a son of Joseph and Lucy (Fretter-Harrison)
Spriggs, both natives of England. They settled in Rice county,
Minnesota, in 1863, and the mother died there in January, 1886.
The father's death occurred in May, 1908.
Our subject acquired a common school education in Rice
county, and in 1884 attended the Business College at St. Paul.
After finishing his studies young Spriggs took a position in the
office of Mr. J. T. Holmes, who carried on a plumbing business
and dealt in heating appliances at St. Paul, and during the five
years he was thus employed gained a thoroughly practical knowl
edge of that line of business.
In 1890-91 he traveled as salesman for the Western Supply
Company of St. Paul. During the year last named, associated
with Mr. Black and his brother, R. C. Spriggs, under the firm
name of Spriggs, Black & Company, and so continued till Mr.
Black's retirement from the firm in 1898, the firm name changing
to Spriggs Brothers, which name is still continued, though the
business was incorporated March 11, 1907, Mr. R. C. Spriggs be
coming president, Mr. S. S. Harrison vice president, and Mr.
William Spriggs, secretary and treasurer.
The concern is doing a general plumbing and heating busi
ness, carrying a complete line of everything relating to that trade,
and takes the lead in all that relates to the construction and in-

BIOGRAPHY 1111
stallation of steam and hot Avater plants, ventillation, plumbing,
etc. Mr. Spriggs is first vice president of the Grand Forks Com
mercial Club and president of the State Association of Builders
and Traders Exchanges. He is a Republican in politics, and has
served as a member of the city council. He is actively identified
with fraternal and benevolent organizations, being a member of
the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of North
Dakota; also a member of the Grand Commandery of Knights
Templar and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On January 20, 1897, Mr. Spriggs married Mrs. Jennie Cross,
nee Taylor, widow of William A. Cross, deceased, by whom she
had two children, viz. : William A. and Lillian Irene. Mr. and
Mrs. Spriggs have two children, viz. : Alva J., born September 11,
1899, and Louise M., born July 3, 1903.
Norman H. Stadum, a prosperous business man of Glynden,
Minn., was born at Parmington, Minn., February 22, 1878, and
acquired his schooling at Barnesville. Leaving school at the age
of fifteen, he taught the district school at Humboldt two terms,
working between times in a drug store.
During the latter part of 1895 he worked in the First National
Bank at Barnesville, Minn., but left that position in February,
1896, and until the following August was employed in the machine
shops of the Great Northern Railroad Company at Barnesville.
His next position was as bookkeeper in the First National Bank
at Barnesville, which he filled till the organization of the Glynden
National Bank in 1902, which was reorganized April 1, 1908, as
the First State Bank, with a capital of $10,000 and a surplus of
$500, and with Mr. Charles R. Olsen president, Mr. P. J. Shea,
vice president, and our subject cashier.
One valuable feature of this bank is its burglar-proof deposit
vault, which, if meddled with, rings an alarm both outside and
inside the building. Besides a general banking business, this
bank represents steamship companies in the sale of tickets, places
insurance in the best companies, collects all manner of claims and
negotiates farm loans.
Mr. Stadum is also president of the Parsdale Land Company,

1112 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
which makes a specialty of handling property for non-residents.
He is also agent for the St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Com
pany, the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and since
1899 has held a commission as notary public.
He has ahvays shown a commendable interest in civic affairs
and is at present (1909) councilman of Glynden, and also treasurer
and a director of the Glynden Telephone Company, which was
organized February 16, 1908, and furnishes both local and long
distance service.
A man of thrift and clear foresight, he has accumulated con
siderable, and owns, besides his comfortable home in Glynden, a
fine farm of 160 acres in Spring Prairie, under a good state of
cultivation and well improved.
In June, 1903, Mr. Stadum married Miss Edna, the accom
plished daughter of Miranda Morris, of Minneapolis, and they
have one child, Edward Morris, born October 12, 1907.
Mr. Stadum is a Republican in politics and a member of the
Masonic Order, Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of
America. Fred Stalley, register of deeds, is descended from Huguenot
ancestors who sought refuge in England after "Black Friday,"
the most dreadful day in French history. He first saw Minnesota
in 1873 and located near Muskoda, Clay county. Returned to
England in 1876 and came to Clay county a second time in 1882,
engaging in farming and sheep raising.
For a number of years he was interested in the Muskoda flour
mill. Was a member of the toAvn board of supervisors of Hawley
township for five years, served thirteen consecutive years as jus
tice of the peace, and was for many years a member of the Mus
koda school board. In 1877 he moved to Moorhead and later
served three terms as city auditor during the stirring times of
charter revision and consequent reduction of the huge city debt.
In 1899 commenced abstracting land titles in the office of the
register of deeds, and for more than six years last past has had
the entire charge of the abstract work. Since January, 1903, he
Avas deputy register of deeds with the late B. B. Hetland, at whose
death, in December, 1907, Mr. Stalley Avas appointed to fill the
unexpired term, and in November, 1908, Avas duly elected to the

BIOGRAPHY 1113
office on the Republican ticket with the largest majority in the
history of Clay county for that office. He takes a commendable
interest in public and political affairs and is in sympathy with
whatever relates to the best interests of his town and county.
Mr. Stalley is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Knights of
Pythias Order and the Modern Brotherhood of America.
He was married in 1878 in England, to Miss Elizabeth Butcher,
who died three years later, in 1881. On January 11, 1890, Mr.
Stalley was married to Miss Nellie H. Axtell, of Troy, Pa. Mr.
and Mrs. Stalley have two children, Prances C. and Harold A.
Jerry E. Stevens, one of the self-made men of the day, came to
North Dakota on July 21, 1881, and engaged in farming. He now
lives in Northwood, where he conducts a thriving general mer
chandise business.
Mr. Stevens is a staunch Republican, and was born near Elgin,
111., on April 8, 1854. His opportunities for education were lim
ited, except what he obtained in the public schools of forty-odd
years ago, and these he attended only occasionally until he was
fifteen years of age, and about that time he entered the great
university of "Hard Knocks," and has taken most of the degrees
of that institution, and quite recently he declared he took a post
graduate course and says there may be other degrees to follow,
but, thanks to a clear conscience and a good constitution, he feels
able to make his way through. He is now senator from the fifth
legislative district. He has served as a school and township offi
cer, and passed through a hot primary fight at the time of his
victorious election to the legislature.
He is a shrewd, level-headed and hardworking senator, and
one of the leading members of the upper house. He was married
in Minnesota, January 10, 1883, to Miss Mazie Rank, and has a
family of two children, viz. : Joy E. Stevens, sixteen years old,
and Maud C. Stevens, aged thirteen years.
Louis T. Stodder, of Moorhead, agent for the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company, came from Boston, Mass., where he was born
on January 12, 1864, the son of Louis and Watie (Aldrich) Stod
der, who were both born and reared in New England. Mr. Stod
der, Sr., served for some months as executive officer on the ill-
fated "Monitor"; in fact was connected with her during her life-

1114 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
time and was in the battle between Monitor and Merrimac when
the Union fleet was saved.
Mr. Stodder received a good public school education in the
East, and his first employment was as errand boy, where he
gained some valuable experience in various lines of business. He
later took a position as traveling salesman for several years, and
in 1889 he left this and engaged as brakeman for the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company, running between St. Paul, Minn., and
Fargo, N. D. This he held for about three weeks, and was given
the position as agent for the same company at the following
points: Belle Prairie, Grey Eagle, Glenwood, Morris and St.
Cloud, Minn., and in 1900 he came to Moorhead, where he has
since continued his faithful efforts in the interests of the com
pany and proven himself a valuable and influential employee.
In 1890 Mr. Stodder was married to Miss Charlotte R. Hale,
of Castine, Me., and they have three children, viz. : Louis T.,
Margaret W. and May L.
Mr. Stodder is a popular man about Moorhead, always inter
ested in its advancement and the welfare of the people. He is a
member of the Knights of Pythias Order, the Ancient Order of
United Workmen and the Commercial Club of Moorhead.
C. R. StOne is a self-made man. Born in the small town of
Crown Point, Ind., in January, 1865, just at the close of the war,
when times were hard and money scarce, when calico was more
popular than the modern Axminster. Education was rather
"picked up" than learned, and opportunities for a boy's advance
ment were of the most meagre character, but these discouraging
surroundings did not discourage this boy, who even in his earliest
boyhood days showed the same indomitable pluck and energy
that has stood him in such good stead through all his busy Ufe.
At a very early age his parents moved to Hebron, Ind., and
it was here that he first showed his musical traits and inclinations,
and at the early age of thirteen he organized and conducted the
Hebron Juvenile Band, which was one of the most successful boy
bands of that day.
After studying for several years he moved to Minneapolis and
taught music until 1886, when he entered the employ of a large
music house in the East, advancing rapidly to the position of

BIOGRAPHY 1115
general salesman. This position he held for several years, when
in 1894 he resigned his position with that house and established
himself in business at Fargo at the corner of First avenue and
Broadway. The rapid growth of his business soon compelled him
to move to more commodious quarters at 110 Broadway, which in
three years he had again outgrown. Then began the erection of
the most complete music house in the Northwest, a building cov
ering a lot 50x120 feet, embracing three floors, with a total floor
space of 25,000 square feet, all perfectly arranged, including a
magnificent music hall, with studios and reception rooms.
But these achievements by a man not yet forty-one have by
no means been accomplished without a bitter hard struggle, the
close application of an indomitable will, tremendous energy and
strictest integrity in all his business dealings.
North Dakota owes much to C. R. Stone. He entered a com
paratively new and unsettled country and contributed greatly to
its growth and development. No one feature contributed more
to the enjoyment of life of those early settlers and those who have
made this great Northwest what it is, than the introduction of
musical instruments, musical culture and musical development
•into those far away homes, making by his very force of character
these ideal environments go hand in hand with the development
of the country instead of following it. When one stops to think
of the isolated homes where neighbors, in those pioneer days,
were miles apart, what intense satisfaction and enjoyment has
been derived by many of these isolated families through the pos
session of some fine instrument. It is no more than right to say
that the man who has traveled day and night, bringing these in
struments of education and civilization to the very doors of the
lonely isolated home of the farmer or rancher, has contributed
much to humanity.
But to appreciate C. R. Stone one must know him intimately
— big hearted, generous to a fault, a thorough sportsman and most
enjoyable companion. Devoted to his family his home life is
ideal, owning a handsome town house in Fargo and a country
place at Detroit, Minn., where each summer he takes a well earned
rest, romping with his two handsome children.
Sigve Strandness, a substantial citizen and enterprising mer-

1116 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
chant of Larimore, N. D., is a native of Norway and was born
December 14, 1853, to Thorjus and Kari (Sigvedsdatter) Strand-
ness. He acquired a common school education in his native land,
and worked at farming till he was twenty years old, when he
came to the United States and settled at Red Wing, Minn. He
lived there and in that vicinity some four years, clerking in a store
part of that time, and in 1878 went to Morris, Minn., and spent
four years as clerk in the store of Messrs. Larson & Nelson. In
1882 he became associated as a partner with Messrs. Larson &
Nelson, and, going to Larimore, N. D., opened a new store and
established the business that has engaged his principal attention
ever since.
In 1895 Mr. Strandness purchased his partners' interest in
the business and for fourteen years has carried it on in his own
name, dealing in general merchandise and groceries. Mr. Strand
ness is a thorough business man and progressive withal, and under
his wise management the business has grown with the develop
ment of the live young city, and amount the largest in its line in
the place.
Mr. Strandness has always taken a worthy part in public
matters and has served three terms in the city council. He is a
Republican in political sentiment, and in religious faith is affili
ated with the Lutheran church.
In 1882 he married Miss Stina Kron, of Morris, Minn. Mrs.
Strandness died April 9, 1907, and left her surviving five chil
dren. Of these, Caroline, the eldest is married to Rev. J. A.
Johansen, of St. Paul, Minn., and has two children, Hansine and
Stanley; Theodore, the next child, married Miss Hilda Benson
and lives at Larimore, N. D. The other children — Inga, Marie
and Anna — are unmarried and live at home. One child is
deceased. Christopher Syverson, the popular proprietor of the Syverson
Hotel, of Glynden, Minn., was born in Norway in 1855 and is a
son of Syver Gilbertson and Gertrude, nee Knutson, both living,
the father being now (1909) eighty-seven, and the mother one
hundred and two years of age. Our subject, acquiring his edu
cation in his native land, in 1881 came to the United States and
settled at Glynden, Clay county, Minnesota. He at once secured

,^%^^^^t^/

BIOGRAPHY 1117
work on a farm at eighteen dollars per month, and in two years
bought a farm in Spring Prairie, but instead of living there car
ried on a rented farm till 1893. He then gave up that occupation
and, moving into the village, opened a meat market. Here he
did a thriving business, and in connection with it established and
operated a wagon route through the surrounding country, and
had a fine trade among the farming communities until he retired
from the business in December, 1908.
The new Syverson Hotel, of which our subject is proprietor,
was opened to the public in September, 1908, and is under the
management of Mr. Syverson 's son, Augustus A. Syverson, a
genial and popular gentleman, whose chief delight is to please
the patrons of the house.
There are in the hotel eighteen guests' rooms on the second
floor, all light and airy, beautifully decorated and cozily fur
nished, while the parlor, with its handsome furnishings and the
spacious office, with its decorations in red and gold, and all fin
ished in oak, give to the establishment an air of substantial and
refined elegance that is at once attractive and restful.
The table, an attractive feature of this house, is under the
direct supervision of Mrs. Syverson, and is richly supplied with
all seasonable delicacies and the more substantial viands required
to meet the needs and gratify the tastes of the patrons.
Adjoining the office is an up-to-date lunch counter for the
accommodation of those who prefer to order a la carte rather than
patronize the dining hall. The house, built at a cost of $6,000, is
an ornament to the city and, facing the Union depot, is especially
popular with the traveling salesmen.
Mr. Syverson married, in the fall of 1881, Miss Mattie Jansen,
who was born January 24, 1860, and settled in Glynden in 1879.
They have had two children ; the eldest, Luther, is deceased ; the
younger, herein spoken of as the popular manager of the Syver
son Hotel, was born on the home farm in Glynden township in
1884, and acquired his education in the district schools and at
the Agricultural College at Fargo. He has had some six years'
experience in connection with the railroad offices of Glynden,
and is an active, wideawake young man, whose training especially
fits him for his duties as a hotel manager.

1118 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Edward Syverson, son of Reir Syverson, whose sketch appears
elsewhere in this work, is one of the prosperous and progressive
young merchants of Ulen, Minn., and the proprietor of one of
the best dry-goods, clothing, shoes and grocery stores in the vil
lage, and his wide experience, obtained by traveling and working
in the various lines in which he has been engaged and at which he
has been generally successful, makes him a valuable business man
in this community. He traveled for a number of years as a drum
mer, and his study of human nature, whieh he has made a spe
cialty, has aided him materially as a salesman and aU-round busi
ness man. He is pleasant and affable to meet, and the type of
personality to succeed in all his undertakings. His place is known
as the "New Store," wherein he has placed a complete line of
groceries and merchandise, and one may purchase any article of
the very latest pattern and style.
Mr. Syverson was reared on his father's farm and educated
in the public and high schools of this county. He is a member of
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and stands in the
highest esteem among the brethren.
Mr. Syverson 's parents are Reir and Randi (EUingson) Syver
son, who were the parents of five children, Edward being the
eldest. The others are Sophia, Carie, Charlie and Rheinhart, all
of whom have the best advantages for education and develop
ment. Reir Syverson, one of the largest land owners and most pros
perous agriculturalists of Clay county, Mmnesota, and who, one
might say, began life in a dug-out, was born in Norway in 1852
and attended the common schools there, where he received the
best education they could afford and fitted himself for the active
life he has since followed.
In 1873 he emigrated to America, and in the spring of that
year settled on a farm in Spring Grove, Houston county, Minne
sota, where he remained for four years, and at the end of that
time his principal possession was a team of oxen, with which he
started across the country in search of brighter prospects and
settled in Clay county, taking five weeks for the trip. Here he
took up a pre-emption claim and built him a dug-out, where he
lived for about three years, working hard on the land, and took

BIOGRAPHY 1119
up a homestead east of this on the same section, about eighty
rods from his present home, where he erected a log house twelve
by fourteen and lived for five years. Four of his children were
born here, and during their residence here his parents came from
Norway and took up a homestead in the same section with him;
they have spent the remainder of their lives receiving the kindest
of treatment and care from their sons and daughters. His father
was Siver Olson Syverson, who died in 1906 at the age of eighty-
six years; his mother passed away the following year and was
eighty-four. They had a family of nine children, Reir being the
fifth child.
Mr. Syverson started in America single-handed and with little
capital. He toiled early and late in the hope of bringing about
his present comfortable circumstances, the fruits of which he is
now enjoying in the highest sense. He now owns one of, if not
the best improved farms in Ulen township, located about one mile
from the viUage ; several acres of it forms a pretty grove which
serves as protection in winter and pleasure in summer. When he
first settled on his homestead, his trading point was Spring Creek,
eighteen miles south of Lake Park, and it took him three days to
make the trip with oxen. He now does general farming and his
residence is modern and attractive, with many commodious barns
and outbuildings to correspond. His farm is well supplied with
the best breeds of stock and comprises about 900 acres, with 500
under cultivation, and ranks among the best in Clay county.
Mr. Syverson is a man of methodical habits, careful and a
thorough business man. He was married in Iowa in 1876, to Miss
Randa EUingson, also a native of Norway. Their children are
Edward, Sophia, Carie, Charlie and Rheinhart.
Mr. Syverson was a member of the board of supervisors, 1898
to 1905, in Ulen township. The entire family are members of the
United Lutheran church, of which he is a trustee.
Frank Squier Talcott, now a prosperous and well-to-do farmer
of Buffalo township, Cass county, North Dakota, first commenced
his farming experience here in the year 1881, and has been a
permanent resident since 1887, during which time he has been a
faithful and earnest worker for the development and upbuilding
of the community in whieh he lives and the state in general.

1120 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Mr. Talcott was born on July 12, 1863, in New York City, the
son of Frank P. and Gertrude (Squier) Talcott. His father for
many years followed the occupation of a merchant, connected
with the firm of Claflin & Company, of New York City. Both
families were of English ancestry, from Pittsfield, Mass. Their
ancestors on both sides were of revolutionary fame and strongly
identified with government proceedings and the development of
the state of Massachusetts. Grandfather Socrates Squier was the
owner of the Pontoosac Woolen Mills, and a member of the state
legislature. Prank Talcott, our subject, was educated first in
the Heathcote school of Buffalo, N. Y., later in the Williams Col
lege, at Williamstown, Mass., and still later in the Buffalo Law
School, of Buffalo, N. Y., and since taking up his residence in
this part of the Northwest he has been one of the prime movers
in its general growth and advancement.
Mr. Talcott has for several years been chairman of the Board
of Supervisors, a member of the School Board, member of the
Legislature, the County and State Central Committees; was
elected to the State Senate in 1900 and re-elected in 1904 without
opposition by any party; was a candidate at primaries without
opposition and re-elected to the Legislature. His work was
largely along educational lines, and he was chairman of the Com
mittee on Education. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Ele
vator, Town Hall and all local institutions, while fraternally he
is a Mason, a member of the Elks Lodge, the Knights of Pythias,
the United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America, the
Yeomen, the M. B. A. and the Delta Psi Fraternity.
On June 8, 1893, Mr. Talcott and Miss Agnes W. Thompson
were married in Buffalo, New York. They are now the parents
of four children, viz: Porter T., Frank S., Jr., Esther B., and
Ruth. Mr. Talcott has always been a Republican in polities, by
heredity, education and belief, and is a strong supporter of the
principles of his party.
Nels Tandberg is a Norwegian by birth, born in Gran Hade-
land, Norway, on March 20, 1859. His parents were Gulbrand
and Kari Tandberg, who emigrated to America with their sons
Nels in July, 1871, and settled in the State of Iowa, where they

NELS TANDBERG

BIOGRAPHY 1121
lived for a number of years and Nels attended the public schools
until 1877, and then moved to Northwood, North Dakota, and
took up a homestead, which has ever since been their home.
Young Mr. Tandberg attended the high school of Franklin
for about two years, after which he taught school for two years
and then entered into business for himself, handling merchandise
and machinery. His present business, however, is real estate,
loans and insurance, with auctioneering on the side, from which
he is enjoying a steadily increasing and comfortable income.
Mr. Tandberg has ahvays been a strong supporter of the
Republican party, and although he has never aspired to any
political office, he was elected (really forced) to the first State
Legislature of North Dakota in 1889 from the Fifth district,
and was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Grand Forks county in
1890, which office he held for twelve years, Avith the exception
of about four months which he spent in Europe in the winter
of 1891. On November 4, 1891, Mr. Tandberg was united in marriage
to Miss Belle Olson, of Avon tovraship, this county. Mrs. Tand
berg accompanied her husband on his European trip, and Avhile
in Christiania, Norway, she passed aAvay on March 5, 1892, thus
bringing to a sorrowful close the pleasure and happiness they
had been enjoying for weeks previous, and Mr. Tandberg re
turned to his home in Northwood, bearing the remains of his Avife
to her last resting place in the little cemetery in Northwood.
Mr. Tandberg is a man upright in character, strong in his
friendships and loyal to his friends, always ready to give from
his store of wealth and knoAvledge to those less fortunate than
himself, and these, combined with his splendid social qualities,
have won for him many substantial friends.
Severt 0. Tang, county superintendent of schools, Moorhead,
Minn., came from Wauzeka, Crawford county, Wisconsin, where
he was born August 26, 1866, the son of Ole and Sophia Tang,
who moved to Albert Lea, Minn., when our subject was two years
of age. In 1879 they moved to Clay county and settled on a farm
of eighty acres, Avhich they took as a homestead and spent the
remainder of their lives there. Both died in the year 1904 — Mr.
Tang at the age of seventy-five years and his wife at the age of

1122 HISTORY OF RED EIVER VALLEY
seventy-two. The farm acreage had been increased to 200 acres
and is now owned by Severt 0. and two other brothers, Henry M.
and Christian Tang, who occupies the home.
Severt 0. Tang is the sixth child of a family of twelve, of
whom six are living. His father was chairman of the township
board, was school director for a number of years and treasurer
of the board for ten years. After finishing his education in the
public schools of Albert Lea and Lake Park, Minn., Severt O.
entered the State Normal School at Moorhead, Minn., where he
took the Latin course and graduated in 1896. He then taught in
the schools of Clay, Becker and Otter Tail counties for twelve
years, for three years as principal of the graded schools of Audu
bon, Minn., and was later principal of the graded schools of New
York Mills, Minn., for four years, until June, 1908, when he be
came a candidate for the office of county superintendent of schools
of Clay county, and was elected for the two-year term by a large
majority, receiving all but forty-two votes at the general election.
Mr. Tang has been a member of the Educational Association
since 1901, was assessor of Eglon township for five years, justice
of the peace for twelve years and census taker in 1905. He is a
Republican in politics and a member of the Norwegian Synod of
the Lutheran church.
John H. Terrett is an enterprising and wideawake citizen of
Michigan City, in Nelson county, North Dakota, who has attained
success by honest, faithful and persistent work. He is a native
of Fairfax county, Virginia, and was born October 24, 1858, to
John H. and Virginia (Hutton) Terrett, both of whom traced
their ancestry through old families of English lineage who settled
in Virginia in the early colonial days.
Our subject acquired a good English education in private and
public schools, and supplemented this by a course of study in a
telegraph institute, after which he spent some time in the railway
service, his purpose being to acquire a practical knowledge of
telegraphing and railroading. In 1878 he returned to the farm
in Cass county, Missouri, whither he had moved some years before,
and for four years engaged in farming. Then, in 1882, going to
Grand Forks county, Dakota Territory, from which Nelson county,
North Dakota, was set off at a later date, he took up a tract of

BIOGRAPHY 1123
government land and began farming, which he carried on from
1883 to 1890, at the same time being employed in buying wheat
for the Pillsbury & Hulbert Elevator Company at Petersburg.
During the next two years he was station agent at Petersburg,
and then for three years owned and operated an independent
elevator. In 1895 Mr. Terrett turned his attention to banking, dealing
in real estate and making real estate and farm loans, at the same
time looking after his farming interests, and has continued his
operations in these several lines with gratifying success ever since.
Mr. Terrett has always taken a lively interest in civic and
public affairs, and has been called to numerous offices of trust.
He was the first mayor of Michigan City after its incorporation
as a city, served a number of terms as a member of the city coun
cil, and has continuously been on the school board at Petersburg,
and later Michigan City, for over twenty years. He has always
been a Democrat in politics, and has served one term as state
central committeeman, and for many years as chairman of the
Democratic county central committee.
He is actively identified with the Masonic Brotherhood, having
attained the thirty-second degree, and is also a Shriner. His
religious affiliations are with the Congregational church.
On August 5, 1885, Mr. Terrett married Miss Maggie Reid, of
Cass county, Missouri, and they have three children, viz. : Dade
R., Fannie R., and Mildred V., a trio of happy young people.
The Red River Brick Corporation, Grand Forks. — This com
pany was incorporated in 1895 with a capital stock of $50,000.
It comprised four companies originally, each of which was in
ventoried and turned over to the corporation. Its stock was
issued to Moran, Alsip, Hunter and Dinnie for the value of their
respective plants. The corporation took a lease of twenty acres
from each of the above stockholders and paid ten cents per thou
sand for the clay.
At the time of the incorporation A. I. Hunter was elected
president; M. J. Moran, vice president; Louis Campbell, secre
tary; James A. Dinnie, treasurer. Mr. William Taylor superin
tends the Alsip yard ; A. S. Dinnie, the Dinnie yard, and Moran
and Hunter each their own yards.

1124 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
The supply of clay is unlimited, and the latest and most im
proved machinery is used for the manufacture of their brick.
The annual output of brick amounts to about 20,000,000. In
March, 1907, the company was reorganized and the capital stock
increased to $150,000. At this time the Kennedy & Poupore yards
were taken into the corporation.
George J. Thompson, of the Moorhead Plumbing & Heating
Company, is a native of Canada, born March 12, 1870. His par
ents were William and Hannah (Johnson) Thompson, also both
natives of Canada, Avho came to Moorhead on May 17, 1880, Mr.
Thompson following the carpenter's trade until his death in
1902, at the age of seventy-nine years.
George J. Thompson is the youngest of a family of thirteen
children, seven of whom are living. He was educated in the pub
lic schools, and began his business life as a blacksmith, and later
embarked in the steamfitting and plumbing business, following
that for about eighteen years, with the exception of two years
when he followed the ice business. Mr. Thompson established his
present company in January of 1907, and the following June he
took as his partner Mr. E. J. Madison, with whom he has since
been connected, the company having completed some of the larg
est contracts in the city, and their work is highly recommended
in the community.
On March 5, 1889, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Ger
trude Peterson, daughter of Andrew and Christena Peterson, of
Moorhead, who came from Norway in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Thomp
son have a family of four children, viz. : Jennie M., George P. T.,
Alice C. L., and Lillian G. Mr. Thompson is a member of the
Masonic Order and the A. O. U. W.
Peter E. Thompson, who was born in Dane county, Wisconsin,
November 16, 1852, was a son of Ingebert and Maritt (Haugen)
Thompson, both natives of Norway, who were among the pioneer
settlers of Dane county, Wisconsin, where the father died in
1862. The mother moved with her family to Goodhue county,
Minnesota, and thence to Pelican Rapids, in Otter Tail county,
being among the first settlers there. Here they endured all the
privations and trials of a new country ; the nearest market was at

BIOGRAPHY 1125
Alexandria, in Grant county, seventy-five miles distant, and the
trip was made in covered wagons.
Peter E., when seventeen years old, went to Northfield and
clerked two and a half years, and after the family settled at
Pelican Rapids, lived some two years on the farm and then began
clerking in the store of 0. A. E. Blyberg, a pioneer merchant of
that place. He entered the employ of Mr. G. S. Barnes & Co., at
Glynden, in Clay county, in 1875, and three years later G. S.
Barnes & Co. sold out to R. L. Frazee, of Pelican Rapids, and Mr.
Thompson went into business for himself, buying the stock of
groceries and hardware of Mr. Edward Keene. Several years
later he built a store on the lots where the new store now stands.
In the faU of the year 1880 the selection of a name for the town
was left to Mr. Thompson, and, although his friends preferred he
should caU it ThompsonviUe, he chose to honor his employer and
christened the town Barnesville. At this time Mr. Thompson
bought the stock of goods of Mr. Edward Keene and, moving his
store from the old town, became Mr. Keene 's successor, and at
that time established his home on two beautiful lots of ground
comprising some seventy-two acres, his elegant and commodious
house facing on Broadway. The town site laid out in 1882 com
prised Wheeler and Thompson's first, second, third and fourth
additions, and joined Mr. Thompson's home property. Going
back a little, it should be stated that the first store of Messrs.
Barnes & Company was the first building within five miles of
Barnesville proper. In 1877 the business was carried on in a box
ear. Those were pioneer times; everything was crude; the rail
road had not yet reached the place and farmers hauled their pro
duce and grain with ox teams from beyond Fergus Falls, often
being delayed for days, awaiting their turn to unload, on account
of the rush and crowd.
Mr. Thompson continued in general merchandising at Barnes
ville from 1878 until 1899, and then sold his business to Messrs.
Norby & Solum and turned his attention to the real estate busi
ness. In the fall of 1904, when the firm of Norby & Solum moved
their store into the new Oliver block, a new firm of Thompson,
Felde & Company was organized, and Mr. Thompson resumed
his interest in the mercantile life of the city. Mr. Thompson is

1126 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
fittingly called the father of Barnesville ; his life 's best years were
given to the development of the city, and any adequate history
of his acts and doings as a private citizen and public official would
necessarily involve a history of the city itself.
He was the prime mover in every enterprise looking to its
welfare and growth when it was but a sparsely settled hamlet,
and the fruits of his wise counsels and safe, conservative and hon
orable methods and far sighted plans are manifest on every hand
in the prosperous and thrifty city of today.
He was the first regularly elected mayor of the city after its
incorporation, and for many years represented the first ward in
the city council. He was justice of the peace a number of years,
and his eight years' service as postmaster are well remembered.
As county commissioner for four years he did valiant service, and
when sent to the state legislature in 1890 he discharged his duties
with honor to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents.
A man of firm convictions, he was slow to express his opinions,
but when once his mind was made up on any vital question, he
stood true to his convictions unmovable.
He was a man of generous impulses, large hearted and kind,
always ready to give a helping hand, and many who today are
enjoying the fruits of prosperity recall with grateful remem
brance his hopeful words and helpful deeds, that started them on
the road to thrift.
Mr. Thompson stood high in the commercial and social life
of his city. He was vice president of the First National Bank of
Barnesville and president of the local Building and Loan Asso
ciation ; he was the first district deputy of Lodge No. 119, Knights
of Pythians, and first past chancellor of the local lodge of Inde
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. His home, elegant in all its ap
pointments, was a center of culture and refinement, and there,
surrounded by his family and a host of true friends and enjoying
the well earned fruits of his honorable dealings, his life presented
a picture of domestic enjoyment at once beautiful and complete.
Mr. Thompson departed this life suddenly, on January 20,
1905, and his unexpected death, which was universally mourned
as a public loss, brought forth the tenderest expressions of sorrow
and tributes of love from all classes of the community, who had

BIOGRAPHY 1127
known him and who had shown the kindly and sweet influence
of his unostentatious and helpful life. On October 15, 1877, Mr.
Thompson married Miss Hannah C, daughter of Mr. Peter Ohlson,
of Evansville, Minn. Mr. Ohlson settled on a tract of govern
ment land near Evansville in the pioneer days of T867, and had
to go to St. Cloud, a distance of 110 miles, for flour and other
necessities. He was a man of influence in his community, and
an active member of the Norwegian Lutheran church. He had
two children; the eldest, Anna G., married Mr. A. 0. E. Blyberg
and died in January, 1905, leaving a daughter, Mrs. Carl Hangen,
of Pelican Rapids. The second daughter, Mrs. Thompson, was
born at Port Washington, Wis., September 8, 1857. She acquired
her education in the district school, and under the tutelage of her
father. She was ten years old when the family settled in Douglas
county, Minnesota, and both there and in her new home in Clay
county, after her marriage, experienced the trials and hardships
incident to pioneer life in an unsettled country.
Mrs. Thompson cheerfully shared with her husband the priva
tions of their early married life, and with him enjoyed the well
earned fruits of their struggles. She now lives in the family
homestead in Barnesville, loved and esteemed by all.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had five children, viz. : George E.,
Alma M., and Julian S., who attended Phillips Academy, Andover,
Mass., and in 1908 entered the law department of Yale Univer
sity; also Lottie C. and Estella L., now aged fourteen and twelve.
Mr. Thompson left a considerable estate at the time of his
decease, which is now administered by Mr. Charles E. Miller, a
business man noted for his executive abilities and financial
achievements. Nels J. Thysell, a substantial citizen of Hawley, Clay county,
Minnesota, has risen from comparative obscurity to an honored
place in his community by patient, persistent and faithful work.
He is a native of Sweden. On coming to this country in 1873 he
settled on an eighty-acre homestead in Clay county, near Hawley,
and had for his first home a dug-out sixteen by twenty feet, for
which was substituted a log cabin a little later. Here he began
in a small way, working early and late, gradually increasing his
possessions as he could, until he owned in his own right some

1128 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
1,100 acres of valuable land, finely improved, with good build
ings and equipped with all the accessories of the modern farm.
He was one of the first Scandinavian settlers of this region
and his reminiscences of the trials and hardships and struggles
of the early days, many of them thrilling in character and all ol
them replete with interest, would fill a volume. He has seen thf
village of Hawley grow from a hamlet of a few straggling shacks
and ten inhabitants to the thrifty and populous city of today.
Where then were marshes and swamps and desolate wastes are
now to be seen fertile farms ; commodious buildings have replaced
the shanties of early days, and everywhere are the evidences of
progress and prosperity.
In this advancement Mr. Thysell has done his part, and lives
to enjoy the rich fruits of his labors. After thirty years spent in
general farming, he purchased the business of his brother, Mr.
C. E. Thysell, and moved from his farm into the village of Hawley.
Although his life has been a busy one, Mr. Thysell has always
shown an interest in public affairs. He has served twenty years
successively on the board of supervisors, for nine years as clerk
of the school board of the township.
A Democrat in politics, he is active in the local councils of his
party and has served as a delegate to numerous county and state
conventions. He is a consistent member of the Lutheran church
under charge of Rev. Hauge.
On September 5, 1874, Mr. Thysell married Miss Inga Thor-
keelson, a native of Sweden. Mrs. Thysell was a woman of noble
Christian character, a true helpmeet, a devoted mother and wife,
and to her devotion and self-sacrifice is in large measure due the
success that has attended Mr. Thysell. She cheerfully shared
with him the trials and hardships of their earlier married life in
the dug-out and the log cabin, and with him toiled in the field
while keeping up her household duties. She was a woman full of
good works, and the memory of her life of sacrifice for others
is cherished by all who knew her, remaining like the sweet influ
ence of a hallowed benediction to comfort and bless their lives.
To Mr. and Mrs. Thysell were born seven children, viz. : Olga,
who was the wife of Mr. Charles Johnson and who died May 12,
1903; Amil and Carl, twins, born in the "dug-out" in January,

BIOGRAPHY 1129
1878 ; Albert, born in 1880. These three— Amil, Carl and Albert
— are associated with their father in business under the firm name
of Thysell & Sons. The fifth child, Annie, born in 1883, is the
wife of Mr. John McDonold ; and Marie, the sixth child, and Fred,
the youngest, are living at home.
The firm of Thysell & Sons deals in light and heavy hardware
and farm implements, machinery, and also conducts an under
taking business, in all its various branches, and is among the
prosperous business houses of the thriving town of Hawley.
Seymour S. Titus, who has attained success by faithful, per
sistent work, is a native of Minnesota. He was born at Oak Grove,
June 3, 1851, and is a son of Moses S. and Jane L. Titus, natives
of Connecticut, who in 1844 settled in Minnesota, where the father
was engaged in business many years.
Our subject acquired his education in his native state and
grew to manhood there on a farm. In the fall of 1872 he became
a general helper, without wages, in the First Bank of Shakopee,
and so continued till the winter of 1874. During the next five
years he was employed as bookkeeper and clerk for Mr. Andrew
J. Smith, a banker at Sauk Center, Minn. In June, 1879, with a
view to selecting a location for permanent settlement, Mr. Titus
went on a prospecting trip to Grand Forks and through the adja
cent regions, and Avas so pleased with the outlook that he went
back and closed his affairs at Sauk Center and on August 29,
1879, associated with Mr. J. Walker Smith, opened the Bank of
Grand Forks. This was the first bank in that part of Red River
valley, and as compared with those of today, was modest in the
extreme. The population of the town then numbered about 100.
The building occupied by this bank, eighteen by thirty-six feet,
stood on Third street, between Bruce and Kittson avenues, and
cost some $400. Later it was moved to a site in the rear of the
Reder and Stewart block, and is used as a smokehouse. Those
were days of small beginnings. The first deposit, forty-six dol
lars and eighty-four cents, was made by Mr. Thomas Collins.
Elias Rice made the first loan, seventy-five dollars, and the first
draft, for a like sum, was issued to Mr. W. G. Woodruff. This
bank continued in business, growing with the growth and devel
opment of the toAvn, till October 31, 1881, at which time the de-

1130 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
posits amounted to $234,233.71 ; while the business of the bank
up to that time aggregated $14,203,096.94.
The Bank of Grand Forks was succeeded on October 31, 1881,
by the First National Bank, with Mr. J. S. Eshelman, president;
Mr. J. Walker Smith, vice president, and Mr. Titus, cashier.
Under the careful conservative and wise management of the clear
sighted nien at the head of this bank, its growth has been phe
nomenal and it has come to be known as, and to be, one of the
strongest financial institutions of the Red River valley and the
Northwest. On April 5, 1880, Mr. Titus married Miss Annie L. Stabler,
of Maine. Of three children born to them, Marion E. alone sur
vives. Tobias R. Tobiason, Hatton, N. D., was born in Winneshiek
county, Iowa, on March 16, 1854. His parents were Roland and
Mary Tobiason, who were natives of Norway and came to the
United States in 1851.
Tobias R. received a good education at the Lutheran College
and Breckenridge Institute at Decorah, Iowa. He taught school
from 1871-1880, came to North Dakota in March, 1879, and fol
lowed farming for many years. He has held numerous local
offices, including justice and treasurer for twenty years continu
ously. In 1900 was appointed postmaster at Hatton, N. D., and
is still holding the office. He is a member of the Hatton Com
mercial Club. Was married to Miss Josephine Anderson in 1883,
who died, and in 1895 he married Miss Olive Bye and has a family
of eight children.
James Twamley, ex-president of the Old Settlers' Association
of the Red River valley, came to Grand Forks, N. D., in 1876 and
purchased land north of the city limits, where he resided for a
number of years. In the year 1878 he and Frank Viets purchased
a stock of goods and commenced the first wholesale house in North
Dakota on the corner of Demers avenue and Third street. There
were no railroads in the country at that time, and Mr. Twamley
carried his trunks by team through Grand Porks, Walsh, Pem
bina and Trail counties. He still retains the wagon that he used
for his samples. Mr. Twamley was educated in the city of New
York, in her public schools and the University of New York.

BIOGRAPPIY 1131
Having a preference for commercial life, he engaged in the whole
sale dry goods business with the house of De Forest, Armstrong
& Co., on Chambers street, where he served his apprenticeship and
remained with the house for three years. Later the John V. Far-
well house of Chicago wanted a buyer and Mr. Twamley was
engaged for the position, afterwards engaging in the wholesale
dry goods business as a member of the house of Seymour, Carter
& Twamley, on Lake street, where he remained until after the
fire, when he returned to New York and joined the firm of Gurley
& Twamley, where he remained some time.
The Western fever having taken possession of him, we next
find him in St. Paul, Minn., as buyer for the wholesale dry goods
house of Auerbach, Finch & Sheffer, which position he held for
eight years, until his health failed him, when he made up his
mind to come to North Dakota and grow up with the new state,
which step he has never regretted up to date. Mr. Twamley pur
chased the corner now occupied by R. B. Griffith, and some years
later sold it to him. He has always taken an interest in educa
tional matters, having served on the city school board and also
on the board of regents of the University of North Dakota. He
was the first regent appointed by Governor Ordway, and re-ap
pointed four times after that, making a total of ten years.
He has given a good deal of time to Masonry, being the oldest
Scottish Rite Mason in the state, having received all the degrees
from the first to the thirty-third inclusive. He helped to keep
alive the temperance sentiment in the state, as he was grand chief
templar of the Independent order of Good Templars at the time
the state was admitted as a state, the first prohibition state to
enter the Union. He was also the first high chief ranger of the
Independent Order of Foresters for North Dakota.
Mr. Twamley married, in 1866, in New York, Miss Mary E.
Hawkins, of Orange county, New York. Two children were born
to Mr. and Mrs. Twamley, J. Fred and M. Edna. Fred has been
in Philadelphia as sales manager of the Saylor cement, which
position he has held for a number of years. Edna is a teacher in
the high school of Grand Forks, which position she has held for
a number of years. Both are graduates of the Grand Forks high
school, and Edna is a graduate of Minnesota University. Mrs.

1132 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Twamley is a member of one of the oldest families of Orange
county, New York, where her family has resided for generations,
and a good part of the county is related to her. The family have
spent over thirty years in the valley and are entitled to a diploma
for suffering the privations of pioneer life.
Henry G. Tweeton, an influential citizen of Barnesville, Clay
county, Minnesota, is a native of Iowa county, Wisconsin, was
born in 1873 and is a son of Gunnulf L. and Mary (Lofthus)
Tweeton, both natives of Norway, where the father was born in
1822. The family immigrated to the United States about 1871
and settled in Wisconsin, whence, in the spring of 1878 they made
the trip in several covered wagons across the country to Tansem,
Clay county, Minnesota, and settled on a tract of wild land which
the father pre-empted and afterwards homesteaded. Here the
father died in 1905. The mother still (1909) lives on the home
stead. Henry G., who was the first of the children born in this coun
try, was five years old when the family settled at Tansem. He
grew up on the home farm, acquiring his education in the district
schools and in the school at Barnesville.
When thirteen years old he began working for his elder
brother, John G. Tweeton, and continued some four years, and
afterwards was employed in the lumber business of Mr. Dennis
F. McGrath, which he finally purchased. During the years of
1897-99 he was junior member of the lumber firm of Norby &
Tweeton at Wolcott, N. D.
In 1901 he sold his lumber yard at Barnesville to the Trimble
Lumber Company of Minneapolis, for which he became manager,
and also engaged in the implement business, handling a full line
of farm implements and machinery, besides carriages, buggies
and wagons. Thrifty and prosperous, he accumulated consider
able property and owns a quarter section east of Barnesville, an
other farm of half a section west of the town, all fine productive
farming land worth forty dollars per acre. Mr. Tweeton is an
active man of affairs, and has always taken a commendable inter
est in civic matters.
From 1901 to 1905 he served as alderman from the second
ward. He was then elected mayor of the city, and re-elected in

BIOGRAPHY 1133
1907. During his administration a system of water works was
installed, 1,800 feet of sewers were built, and other public im
provements, comprising sidewalks, paving, etc., were made.
Mr. Tweeton is an active member of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and Knights of Maccabees ;
is a director of the First National Bank of Barnesville, and a
director of the Record Review Publishing Company, and is recog
nized as one of the public spirited men of the town.
He married Mrs. John G. Tweeton, widow of his deceased
brother. Of six children born to them, five, viz. : John, Mary,
Sidney, Roy and Ruth, are living. Ralph, the fifth child, is de
ceased. Their beautiful home is one of the handsomest in the
city. John G. Tweeton, whose death occurred on February 1, 1896,
at his home in Barnesville, was one of the enterprising men of
the town, who did much for its development and growth. He
was born in Norway, May 24, 1859, and came to this country in
1871 with his parents, Gunnulf L. and Mary (Lofthus) Tweeton,
who settled first in Iowa county, Wisconsin, and in the spring of
1878 moved to the Red River valley, settling at Tansem, in Clay
county, Minnesota, on a tract of wild land, which they cultivated
and improved, and which became the family homestead.
There were eleven children in the family, viz. : Our subject,
the eldest; Rerer, who died in childhood; Ole, who lives on the
homestead ; Kjersti, who is married to Mr. Langass ; Richmond G.,
a traveling salesman; Mary, the wife of Mr. 0. M. Thompson;
Henry G., whose sketch appears in this work; Julia, who is mar
ried to Mr. C. Hafstad; Helen, the wife of Mr. M. Hafstad, and
Martin and Gine, who live on the family homestead, where the
mother also resides, and where the father died in 1905, at the
age of seventy-three years.
Our subject acquired his schooling in his native country and
soon after the family were settled in their new home began life
on his own account. Going to Barnesville, he worked as a section
hand on the railroad, and at any work he could get whereby to
earn an honest dollar.
In 1880 he entered the employ of Mr. Peter E. Thompson, a
pioneer merchant of Barnesville, and after six years of faithful

1134 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
service, was able to engage in business for himself. He purchased
of Messrs. Thompson and McGrath their lumber yard, in 1886,
and conducted it with good success till 1890, when he retired
from active commercial life.
Mr. Tweeton was a Republican in politics, and was always
more or less active in public and civic affairs, and was called
to numerous positions of trust. While associated with Mr.
Thompson he served five years as deputy postmaster, and for two
years was village recorder, and also served as clerk of the school
district. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and also belonged to the A. 0. W. of Druids.
Mr. Tweeton was twice married. His first wife, Nettie, nee
Honvold, left surviving at her decease, a son, Mr. Arthur Twee
ton, who is a farmer. His second wife, who after his decease
became the wife of his brother, Mr. Henry G. Tweeton, was Miss
Segred Thorvaldson, a native of Norway.
Mr. Tweeton was highly esteemed in the community for his
manly character and public spiritedness, and his death was
universally mourned, as that of a good man and worthy citizen.
Treadwell Twichell, Avas born at Hastings, Minn., November
19, 1864, and was the eldest of eight children, born to Luther L.
and Sallie Dance Twichell. He removed with his parents to
Minneapolis, in 1876, and came to North Dakota, in 1879, alone,
when but fifteen years of age. He located at Mapleton, in Cass
county, and has lived there and at Fargo, ever since. He is thus
one of the pioneers of the state, although still a young man, and
has been identified with the development of his section of the state,
from an almost uninhabited plain, to one of the most populous
and prosperous sections of the West. Mr. Twichell received his
education in the public and high schools. This rudimentary
knowledge he has augmented by extensive reading and personal
research, and there are few better posted men in the state. Mr.
Twichell is very successfully engaged in farming, owning and
operating a splendidly equipped farm of 5,200 acres in the best
part of Cass county. He is also extensively engaged in business
as a ditch contractor. Mr. Twichell has always taken an active
interest in public affairs, and has been kept continuously in town
ship and district offices ever since he became of age. He was

BIOGRAPHY 1135
elected chairman of the township board successively for nineteen
years without a vote against him. Politically, Mr. Twichell has al
ways been a Republican, and has taken a prominent part in the
councils of his party, as well as serving the public in an official
capacity. He was elected a member of the state house of repre
sentatives in 1894, re-elected in 1896, and was elected to the
senate in 1898. He resigned his seat in the senate in 1900, to be
come a candidate for sheriff of Cass county. He was elected and
served as sheriff for two terms. He was chosen as chairman of
the Republican Central Committee in 1904, and served in that
capacity with distinguished ability for two years. He was again
elected to the house of representatives in 1906, and was made
speaker of that body by an almost unanimous vote, filling the posi
tion in a manner which reflected the highest credit both on him
self and the house of representatives. In 1908 he was the candidate
of the progressive Republicans for the nomination for governor,
and defeated.
Mr. Twichell was married in 1900 to Miss Grace B. Dill,
daughter of Colonel Daniel J. Dill, of Prescott, Wis. They have
a family of four children.
Ole Ulen, the famous founder of Ulen township, was born in
Norway, April 18, 1818, and died in the village of Ulen, on Jan
uary 19, 1891. Mrs. Ulen passed away on February 10, three
years later.
This venerable pioneer, Mr. Ulen, emigrated to America in
1851, when his daughter, Mrs. Ashson, was but a mere infant, and
first settled in Rock Prairie, Rock county, Wisconsin, and here he
followed the occupation of farming for about one year, and then
moved to Houston county, Minnesota, where he remained for the
next fourteen years, and in the meantime, took up a tree claim,
which Mrs. Ulen proved up, after his death. It was located in
the southeastern part of section 32, Ulen township. In 1866 he
started with his family by ox teams overland to Winnesheik
county, Iowa, where he settled on a farm, and began the usual
routine of farming against the difficulties of those days. Here
he lived for about five years, and decided that Clay county,
Minnesota, afforded better opportunities for him, and conse
quently moved his family to that point in 1871, with a yoke of

1136 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY"
oxen and a team of horses, spending about five weeks on the
road. He spent the next year, however, in Becker county, and
in the latter part of 1872, he moved to Ulen township, and erected
a good log house, 18x26, with the nearest neighbor six miles dis
tant. Indians were numerous in those days, the winters most
severe, and the pioneer experiences of Mr. Ulen would alone
prove a very interesting article. He first broke nine acres on
his claim in section 28, Ulen township, and later sixty acres on
his daughter's (Mrs. Arne Evens) claim, and Mrs. Ulen was ever
ready with her faithful efforts in behalf of their success, and
was indeed a most noble helpmeet. Together they toiled the
while, and during war time Mrs. Ulen spun wool, which she had
woven, and made towels, sacks, straAv beds, etc., for the soldiers.
For two years she lived in a dug-out, where her daughter, Rachel,
was born, and who died at the age of three years. Their next
residence was built of logs, but comfortable, and here they lived
for many years, until they erected the house in which they spent
the remainder of their lives.
Mr. Ulen was one of the three who founded the Lutheran
Church of Ulen, and was a charter member of that organization.
He was a man, kind of heart, a good neighbor, and a most val
uable citizen in the county.
John Vallely, president of the Western Collection Agency of
Grand Forks, N. D., is a native of Canada. He was born at Lan
ark, Ontario, January 21, 1861. His parents, Michael and Mary
(Ryan) Vallely, were farmers by occupation. His father was a
native of County Armagh, Ireland. He came to Lanark, Ontario,
when seventeen years of age, and spent the balance of his life at
that place, dying at the age of eighty-two years. His mother
was born at Lanark, and lived to the end of her days, and died on
the farm where she was born, at the age of sixty-four years.
Mr. Vallely received his education in the schools of his home
town, and removed to North Dakota, June 2, 1882, where he has
continued to reside. The Western Collection Agency, of which he
is president, and H. W. Gibbs, secretary and treasurer, was or
ganized in 1907, and does a large and constantly increasing busi
ness. Mr. Vallely has been in the collection business since 1890.
He was elected alderman of the Sixth ward, in the spring of 1907,

BIOGRAPHY 1137
is committeeman from the Sixth District Democratic State Cen
tral Committee. He holds membership in the Order of Irish-
American Workmen, Foresters, Yeoman, Knights of Columbia,
and the Elks.
On November 28, 1889, he was united in marriage with Miss
Lila Moran, of Grand Forks. The following children have been
born to them : Mary Lillian, Margaret Irene, Alonza Joseph and
Michael Alexander.
George Van Arnam, county judge of Richland county, was
elected to this office in 1908. He was born in Bureau county,
Illinois, in 1859, and educated there, and after finishing school,
he learned the drug business, whieh he followed for four years,
in Walnut, 111. In 1881 he came to Richland county, North
Dakota, and located at Barrie, where he settled on a claim and
held it for twelve years, farming and teaching school in the mean
time. This was not the height of his ambitions, however, and he
decided to venture into the newspaper business, and accordingly,
moved to Walcott, Richland county, North Dakota, and estab
lished the "Walcott Reporter," which he operated for about
seven years, and lived there until 1909, when he moved to
Wahpeton. Judge Van Arnam was the only candidate elected on the
Democratic ticket in Richland county, in the 1908 campaign. He
was a member of the state legislature in 1903, and has ever since
served the county in various offices of local importance. He is
a man of broad and liberal views, good judgment, and far-
sighted in all matters of interest to his community, and is
universally respected for his integrity, uprightness and urbanity.
In 1885 Judge Van Arnam was married to Nettie Heath, and
they are the parents of four children, viz.: Virginia, Kittie,
Grace and Hazel.
Judge Van Arnam, with Mr. H. J. Hagen, organized the Old
Settlers' Association, and it was through their efforts that it was
incorporated, at a meeting of the older settlers, at Abercrombie ;
that being the home of Mr. Hagen.
The judge is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America. '
Thomas Barlow Walker, philanthropist, was born in Xenia,

1138 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Greene county, Ohio, February 1, 1840, the second son and third
child of Piatt Bayliss and Anstis Barlow Walker. The Walkers
were of English stock, and settled during the early history of the
country in New Jersey, his father leaving that state early in life
for New York. The Barlows were also of sturdy parentage. His
maternal grandfather was Thomas Barlow, of New York, and
two of his uncles were for many years judges, Thomas in New
York, and Moses in Ohio. His father died enroute to California
in 1849, and his mother was left to struggle Avith adversity with
her four young children.
The boy, who has since won recognition among men, was but
nine years of age, and adversity stared the whole family in the
face. The excellent mother never gave up hope for one instant,
but set out to give her children the best education possible. It
was hard times for a while, and Thomas helped as well as he
could, by selling papers, cutting wood, doing odd jobs in the
stores. It was very much in evidence, however, that when he
undertook to pick berries, or do similar work, he would hire other
boys to work for him, and pay them a certain amount for each
quart picked. He seldom failed to realize a profit upon his
enterprises. When the lad was sixteen the family moved to Berea, a toAvn
a few miles out of Cleveland, Ohio, to be near Baldwin University,
where Thomas hoped to complete his education. But these hopes
were never fully realized, as the scarcity of money compelled him
to go to work. For a while he clerked in a store.
With the little money he had saved he entered college, expect
ing to work his way through. Once he bought a piece of timber
on speculation, and hired fellow students to help him cut the tim
ber. This venture yielded some returns, but not enough to enable
him to complete his course, and shortly afterwards he accepted
an offer from Mr. Hulet, to go on the road and sell Berea grind
stones. Berea grindstones had never sold so well before young
Walker went out with them and orders for them came in thick
and fast. But all the time during which he traveled, he carried
two grips with him ; one containing his wardrobe ; the other — and
it was by far the heavier — held his books, which he studied at
every opportunity.

BIOGRAPHY 1139
Such was his diligence that he found time to keep up with his
classmates, and when the examinations came at the end of the
school year, he always stood at the top. During his whole course
at college he could only afford time for one term in the year;
yet he was so earnest in his endeavors to learn, that he was not
content with acquiring all the knowledge which the text books
contained, but read and understood as well, every work on the
subject which he could obtain. He excelled particularly in the
higher branches of mathematics ; Newton 's Principia, Astronomy,
Chemistry, and other kindred subjects, found a devoted adherent
in the young man.
In 1869, when he was nineteen years old, he undertook a con
tract, which would have presented insurmountable difficulties to
even an old, experienced business man. He was then selling
grindstones at Paris, 111., where the Terre Haute & St. Louis Rail
road Company were engaged in building their line. Without
friends, without capital, without credit at the local bank, he took
up a contract to supply the railroad with cross ties and other
lumber. He obtained credit at the bank, bought timber lands,
built boarding camps for his crews, and soon had things boom
ing. Prospects were bright and his profits would have been very
considerable, in view of the fact that his only capital when he
started was plenty of nerve and self-reliance, but at the end of
eighteen months the railroad company failed, and he was left
with but a trifling fraction of what he had earned.
With a few hundred dollars, whieh he had saved, he returned
home, where he began teaching school. In this vocation, as in
everything which he ever undertook, he was successful.
The War of the Rebellion having broken up the school
at Berea and paralyzed business, young Walker became a
member of an artillery company and waited for several
weeks to get into camp in Cleveland. Having failed to
secure admission to the company, it became necessary to secure
employment, and for this purpose he went West, through Michi
gan and Wisconsm. Having applied to the president of the board
of regents of the State University of Wisconsin for the position
of assistant teacher in mathematics, which the president found
him fully competent to fill, and while he waited for the decision

1140 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
of the board he went to McGregor, Iowa, and there having met
J. M. Robinson, of Minneapolis, who gave him a glowing account
of the new town of Minneapolis, "ten miles above St. Paul," he
decided to come to Minnesota, in order to engage in a surveying
enterprise with Mr. George B. Wright, of Minneapolis. Having
arrived here and met Mr. Wright, he engaged to go on the gov
ernment survey. Soon after starting from Minneapolis towards
the frontier Mr. Walker received the appointment of assistant
professor of mathematics in the University of Wisconsin, but had
engaged for the surveying work, and refused to change his de
cision. Thus it would seem that Minnesota has, through an
incident of the meeting with Mr. Robinson, acquired the life
citizenship of Mr. Walker.
Mr. Walker took passage on the first steamboat for St. Paul,
and bringing with him a consignment of grindstones. There
he met an unusually intelligent and energetic young man, em
ployed by the transportation company as clerk and workman on
the wharf, of whom he has been a firm and trusted friend ever
since. That young man was James J. Hill. From St. Paul, Mr.
Walker came over the only railroad in the state to Minneapolis,
and within an hour after his arrival entered the service of
George B. Wright. The surveying expedition was soon
abandoned, owing to an Indian outbreak, and returning to Min
neapolis, Mr. Walker devoted the winter to his books, having
desk room in the office of L. M. Stewart, an attorney. The fol
lowing summer was occupied in examining the lands for the St.
Paul & Pacific Railroad. In the fall he returned to his Ohio home
at Berea, where he was married December 19, 1863, to Harriet G.,
the youngest daughter of Hon. Fletcher Hulet, a lady whose
name is a synonym in Minneapolis for good works. Returning to
Minneapolis, Mr. Walker entered upon an active career, which
made him not only a participant in, but the chief promoter of,
many good works and enterprises in the city. In the summer
of 1864 he ran the first trial line of the St. Paul & Duluth Rail
road, after which he gave attention for years to the government
survey. In 1868 he began to invest in pine lands, and thus laid
the foundation for the large fortune which he subsequently ac
quired. His first partners in the business were L. Butler and

BIOGRAPHY 1141
Howard W. Mills, under the firm name of Butler, Mills & Walker,
the first two furnishing the capital, while Mr. Walker supplied
the labor and experience. This led also to the extensive manu
facture of lumber by the old firm of Butler, Mills & Walker,
afterwards L. Butler & Co., and later Butler & Walker. Of later
years his most important operations in this regard have been his
large lumber mills at Crookston and Grand Forks, both of which
have been leading factors in the development of the Northwest.
Mr. Walker's business career has been characterized by strict
integrity and honorable dealing.
This sketch would be incomplete should it fail to record the
beneficial and sustaining influences whieh have surrounded Mr.
T. B. Walker's home life, and the valuable assistance accorded
him by his wife and children.
With a truly Christian, motherly nature, Mrs. T. B. Walker
has exceptional talent, thoroughly practical ideas, and executive
ability of high degree. Her husband, her children, and her home,
have ever received her best efforts and true devotion. Without
slighting these duties, she has been able for many years to take
a very active part in numerous charitable and philanthropic
works. As a Avise counselor and a loyal supporter, she has at all times
exerted a sustaining and stimulating influence on her husband.
Those who have become personally acquainted with her or know
the results of her life work, do not hesitate to place her in the
front rank among the most capable, efficient and admirable
women of this country. The National Encyclopedia of American
Biographies includes, in its latest publication, a highly com
mendatory sketch of her life. Among the multitude of persons
mentioned in the six large quarto volumes of this standard work,
only some four or five other women are included. While never
neglecting or slighting any of the details pertaining to the rear
ing, training and welfare of her large family of eight children,
she has for many years been foremost in planning, developing
and managing many large public and charitable works, has in
addition been more or less prominent in matters of national im
portance. She has, with energy, combated all forms of intemper
ance, and especially the blight of the liquor curse. She was the

1142 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
principal factor in planning, establishing and maintaining the
Northwestern Hospital, of which organization she has continually
served as president for the past twenty-five years, devotmg much
of her time and means to its advancement. She is the surviving
one of the four originators of the Bethany Home, and amid many
discouraging circumstances has been very largely responsible for
the construction, supervision and perpetuation of that most help
ful and important charitable institution. She was also one of the
principal originators of the Women's Council, which was most
successfully maintained for many years and of which she was
president during a large part of its existence.
Her time and means have freely been given to help those who
were unfortunate, especially the women and children. The num
ber of such calls has frequently been so large and continuous that
it is little less than remarkable that she has had time to look
after other duties. For years she has continually taxed herself
to the limit in her family and household affairs, while ever ready
to respond to repeated calls for useful work. Her character,
energy, remarkable judgment, clear understanding of home and
public affairs, has been a most important element in giving char
acter and direction to her sons and daughters, and has ably
qualified them for successful and useful lives. There is scarcely
to be found anywhere in this country a more nearly ideal family
in which the father, mother and children are living exemplary
lives, devoted to and considerate of each other, and striving to
do their full share for humanity. Mrs. Walker's part in the de
velopment of this family life has been equally important with
that of her husband, and she deserves and receives from those
familiar with her life an equal share of the credit for the suc
cesses which have rewarded the labors of her husband and her
children. Aurelius Lansing Wall, dealer in lumber, Fargo, N. D., is a
native of New York state, his birth occurring at Hornby, Steuben
county, on October 20, 1848. His parents were Cornelius A. and
Olive B. (Stanton) Wall. His father was a lumberman and
banker. Grandparents were from England, and first came to
Connecticut, and from there to Steuben county, New York.
After completing his studies at the high school at Gale, White-

BIOGRAPHY 1143
side county, Illinois, he went at the age of sixteen to Grand
Rapids, Mich., and engaged in lumber shipping, came to North
Dakota in March, 1882, and/has been identified with the lumber
business ever since. Mr. Wall served as' alderman of Fargo, 1892-
1893. State representative, 1902, and mayor of Fargo, 1904-1905.
He is a member of the Masonic Order, and a charter member of
the Fargo Commercial Club.
On October 27, 1870, he was married to Miss Ida V. Stebbins,
who passed away on February 24, 1901; leaving one daughter,
Lottie E. Wall, born March 9, 1885.
Robert B. Webb, a leading citizen of Glyndon, Clay county,
Minnesota, was born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1846,
and is a son of Sylvester T. and Eliza (Harrington) Webb. The
mother died when Robert was nine years old, and his father then
married Elizabeth Hemsted, a widow, who still survives at the
age of eighty-three years. The father, who was born in Columbia
county, New York, was a pioneer settler of Walworth county,
and a prominent and prosperous farmer for many years, but
when seventy years of age he retired from active work and
moved to Springfield, Wis., where he now lives, and though
eighty-five years old, is hale and hearty, in full possession of his
faculties, and able to read without the aid of glasses.
Robert B. grew up on the old homestead in Walworth county,
attending the district schools, and also for a short time, Milton
Academy. In 1878 he settled on a farm on Buffalo river in Clay
county, Minnesota, which he sold after two years, and moved to
the village of Glyndon. Here he bought a quarter section of land,
which he farmed for a number of years. His present farm of
230 acres, near the village, is finely improved with a good class
of buildings and under a good state of cultivation. The soil is
especially adapted to potato raising, the yield in 1908 being 150
bushels per acre.
Mr. Webb has always been an active man of affairs since
settling at Glyndon, and has done much for the development of
his town. He was for a number of years agent for the Minne
sota & Dakota Elevator Company, at Glyndon, and also owned
and conducted an agricultural implement store, which he sold to
his son-in-law, Mr. Walter Share, in 1900. He has served as town

1144 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
treasurer, assessor, justice of the peace, president of the village
council, and chairman of the board of supervisors. In 1902, he
was elected county commissioner, and still holds that office, being
at present — 1909 — chairman of the board, under whose directions
much has been done in the way of drainage of low lands. He
is active in church work, and is a deacon of the Glyndon Congre
gational Church.
In 1868, Mr. Webb married Miss Amy E. Jewell, of Walworth
county, Wisconsin, who departed this life in June, 1907. Of six
children born to them, Mintie J., the eldest daughter, is deceased;
Bertha, the third child, is the wife of Mr. F. A. Woodward,
Glyndon; the fourth child, Clara, takes charge of the home since
the mother's death; Hattie E., fifth child, is the wife of Walter
Share, of Glyndon, and Robert B., Jr., the youngest child, carries
on the farm. Their eldest son, Halbert L. Webb, is an active
and wide-awake business man and a member of the firm of Jewel
& Webb, of Duluth, Minn., and also operates a private elevator
at Glyndon, making a specialty of buying barley and oats, and
being known throughout the farming community as a popular
and reliable dealer in his line.
William Henry Welch, M. D., a practicing physician, of Lari
more, N. D., was born June 30, 1854, at Boston, Mass. His
parents were Hosea Welch, Jr., and Harriet (Davling) Welch,
natives of Ireland and Scotland, respectively. He received his
education at the Caledonia county, Vt., Grammar School, and at
the medical department of the Academy of Vermont. First came
West in 1883, and in March of that year settled in Crookston,
Minn., and removed from there to Larimore on December 1,
1889, and engaged in the practice of his profession. Had charge
of Grand Forks County Hospital, as physician, from 1898 to 1904.
Is a member of Grand Forks County Medical Society, North
Dakota Medical Society, and the American Medical Association.
On January 14, 1882, Dr. Welch was united in marriage with
Miss Elizabeth Morrison, at Groton, Vt.
Frank A. Weld, president of the State Normal School of Min
nesota, is universally known as one of the leading educators of
the Northwest. He was born at Skowhegan, Maine, in the year,
1858, and he was educated in the Bloomfield Academy of his own

EDWIN J. WHEELER

BIOGRAPHY 1145
town, and Colby University, at Waterville. Equipped with a
knowledge afforded by two widely known schools, Mr. Weld
headed for the Northwest, arriving in Minnesota in 1882. His
first work in this state was at Zumbrota, where he served as
superintendent of schools for five consecutive years. From there
Mr. Weld repaired to Fergus Falls, where he officiated in the
same capacity for five and a half years ; after that he became the
northwestern manager of the school book publishing house of
D. C. Heath & Co., one of the largest printing houses of its kind
in the union. Mr. Weld resigned this position to assume the
superintendency of the public schools of Stillwater, where he re
mained until his appointment as president of the State Normal
School, in the year 1889. Since that year he has been retained
as the chief director of this seat of learning, and since his advent
into the school the enrollment has trebled in numbers, and the
general management of the institution has been brought to a
plane of effectiveness.
Edwin J. Wheeler, mayor of Moorhead, is a specimen of the
sturdy manhood that Minnesota is known to supply to the nation.
Mr. Wheeler was born on a farm in Faribault, Minn., April 6,
1867, the eldest son of Gideon and Harriet (Hendricks) Wheeler.
He was reared and educated in the high school at Blue Earth,
Minn., and remained on the farm until he became of age. He
then obtained employment as clerk in a general store at Blue
Earth, where he remained until 1891, and decided to venture into
business on his own account, and accordingly opened a store for
general needs at Fairmont, and it was here that the Wheeler
Land Company was organized in 1896, with a branch office at
Moorhead. In 1898 Mr. Wheeler came to Moorhead, and the
following year the company re-organized and incorporated with
a capital stock of $30,000, with Edwin J. Wheeler as president;
F. B. Herbert, vice-president, and John M. Dahlby, secretary;
which company Mr. Wheeler now owns and controls with a sur
plus of several times its capital.
In politics Mr. Wheeler has always been a staunch supporter
of the Republican party, and during his service as mayor of
Moorhead, to which office he was elected in 1907, the city has en
joyed a constant growth and advancement under his manage-

1146 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ment, second to none in the history of the city, while the Wheeler
Land Company is one of the largest companies west of Minne
apolis, and the largest land owner in Clay county, and is a boon
to Clay county and the city of Moorhead.
Mr. Wheeler is a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Knights
of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Modern
Brotherhood of America, and United Workmen.
In 1892 he was married to Miss Helen S. Evans, and they
have a family of two children, viz. : Percy and Lewis.
Mrs. Wheeler is a native of Muncie, Ind., a daughter of Lewis
D. Evans, now a resident of Moorhead.
Jerome W. Wheeler, president of the First National Bank of
Crookston, Minn., was born in Kenosha, Wis., January 15, 1863,
and, with an older brother, who resides in Chicago, were the only
children of Jerome B. and Katherine (Deming) Wheeler, whose
ancestry dates back to the Seventeenth century. His great
grandmother on his mother's side was a daughter of Israel
Putnam. At the age of three years, Mr. Wheeler's father died, and his
mother being a woman of extraordinary educational qualifica
tions, conducted a private school in which she educated her sons
and fitted them for college. Jerome entered the McMynn
Academy at Racine, Wis., in 1878, from which he graduated with
the class of 1880, thoroughly equipped for a business career.
Soon after his graduation he secured a position as clerk in the
Dan Head & Company's bank, in Kenosha, Wis., where he re
mained for about five years and then took a position as book
keeper in the First National Bank of Crookston. Here he worked
until 1892, and engaged as cashier with the Scandia bank, where
he remained three years, and in 1895, with his brother, A. D.
Wheeler, purchased the controlling interest of the First National
bank, which was founded in 1881 by the members of the J. I.
Case Threshing Machine Company, with a capital stock of
$50,000; this increased in 1884 to $100,000, and the present cap
ital stock is $75,000. It is now one of the strongest banking
institutions in the Northwest, and its details are carefully looked
after by our subject.
Mr. Wheeler is one of the leaders of financial and social in-

BIOGRAPHY 1147
terests in Polk county in ability and executive force, and is
considered a valuable citizen in the community. For some twenty
years Mr. Wheeler conducted an extensive real estate and loan
business, in which he was very successful. He has been con
nected as a member with the State Bankers' Association for
several years, is a member of the Commercial Club, and a pro
moter of every movement on foot for the advancement of
Crookston and the Northwest.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Wheeler has served in various
local offices and is a former chairman of the Republican County
Central Committee, and belongs to the Methodist Church. Fra-
ternaUy he has long been a Mason and member of the Blue
Lodge, Chapter, Commandery, Consistory and Shrine. He is
also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Knights
of Pythias, and Order of Elks.
Mr. Wheeler was married in 1887 to Miss Eva Hill. They
have three children, viz. : Katherine, Marion and Jerome W., Jr.
William H. White, proprietor of the oldest established lum
ber business in North Dakota, is one of the most progressive and
enterprising men of the state. He was bbrn in Whiting, Vt., July
31, 1851, in which state his ancestors have been identified with
the Colonial and Revolutionary history and with the legislative
enactments of the state for some generations back.
Mr. White is the son of Lyman P. White. His early life was
spent in his native state of Vermont with his father, who was a
business man; and probably from him he received that spirit of
commercial activity whieh has so successfully enabled him to
complete everything he undertakes. His education was com
pleted at Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis.
Mr. White began his lumber business in North Dakota, April
20, 1872. He sold and delivered at this time the bill of timber for
the approach of the bridge over the Red river at Moorhead,
which permitted a railroad to enter Dakota for the first time. He
then rafted lumber down the Red river for sale to form the first
budding operations at Grand Forks. He opened up a yard in
Fargo and Pembina, and in 1873 he conducted a lumber business
at Bismarck, the first, also, in that part of the state. Since that

1148 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
time, from his Fargo business, he has developed a system of
twenty-three lumber yards located in different parts of the Red
River valley. He has been continuously engaged in the lumber
business in North Dakota during the past thirty-six years, and
has been in business for a longer period of consecutive years than
any other merchant in the state.
S. Bernhard Widlund is a prominent and successful business
man of Hawley, Clay county, Minnesota. He was born at Ramsjo,
Helsingland, Sweden, in 1878, and is one of a family of eleven
children born to Mr. and Mrs. S. Widlund, who emigrated to
the United States and settled at CoopersfWn, N. D., in 1897.
Our subject attended the public schools in his native land
and was graduated from there in 1893. He was a careful and
diligent student, and after coming to this country in 1897, at
tended the common schools here, and the high school at Coopers-
town, N. D. He devoted himself to mastering the English lan
guage, and also became proficient in the study and use of Ger
man, and maintained a high standing in his classes. Being
ambitious to perfect himself and broaden his knowledge, he con
tinued his studies by private correspondence, after leaving school.
To better fit himself for business Mr. Widlund took a two-year
commercial course in the North Dakota Business College, at
Pargo, N. D., and began his business career as an employee of
the Acme Harvester Company, and Avery Manufacturing Com
pany, in charge of a department of the office at Pargo, and a part
of the time as traveling salesman for the company, selling thresh
ing machines, supplies and farm machines. He next became a
law student, stenographic clerk and bookkeeper in the law office
of attorneys Templeton and Rex, at Grand Forks, N. D., and
began the study of law. His next position was as a clerk and
teller in the First National bank, East Grand Forks, Minn., where
he acquired his first practical experience in banking, which he
found greatly to his liking, so that he pursued the study of
same in all its branches, with the result that, in 1906, he was
chosen assistant cashier of the First National bank, Hawley,
Minn. Owing to his being away looking after lands in Williams
county, North Dakota, he did not take up the duties of his office
till April following his election, and then only for a few months,

BIOGRAPHY 1149
for in October, 1906, he was made cashier and manager of the
institution, an office which he now fills.
Mr. Widlund takes an active interest in all that tends to
raise the moral tone of the community, and is actively identified
with the Union Church, being a member of its board of trustees,
and a teacher in its Sunday School, and sings in the church choir,
having a fine tenor voice.
He is secretary of the Hawley branch of the American Society
of Equity, and belongs to the Masonic Order, being now in
preparation for membership in the commandery. He is an ex-
member of the Sharpshooters' Union of Sweden, and holds a
government medal for marksmanship.
Mr. Widlund 's brother, Isadore Widlund, whose home is in
Grand Forks, N. D., is at present — 1909 — vice-consul to Sweden
for North Dakota.
Andrew H. Wije, of the firm of Wije & LaValley, real estate
dealers of Moorhead, was born in Bergen, Norway, on April 1,
1858. He was educated in the public and high schools of his
native town, and at the age of nineteen he came to America and
located first in Eau Claire, Wis., where he remained from 1879
to 1882, coming to Moorhead in the fall of that year. He engaged
in the general merchandise business and followed it for some six
years. Well educated, ambitious and business-like, he became
one of the popular men about town, and in 1888 was elected to
the office of register of deeds and abstracter of Clay county, and
held the same by re-election for four consecutive terms, and at
the expiration of his last term he embarked in the real estate
business, which he has since conducted successfully.
Mr. Wije is an active Republican in politics, is a member of
the Commercial Club of Moorhead, the Royal Arcanum, and the
Modern Woodmen of America.
In 1891 he was married to Miss Helen Kjorstad, of Eau
Claire, Wis., who died in 1895, leaving one child, Reuel.
Frank Wellington Wilder was born on a farm in Sterling,
Worcester county, Massachusetts, on April 23, 1857. His father
was Josiah Wilder, and his mother, Sophia P. (Hayden) Wilder.
The subject of the sketch is a direct descendant of Thomas
Wilder, who came to Massachusetts Bay some time not later than

1150 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
1645, and settled in Lancaster, Mass., about three miles distant
from the subject's birthplace. To this farm of his birthplace his
great grandfather came about 150 years ago, and it remained in
the family until his father's death. The ancestry is English. Mr.
Wilder was educated in the local district school, the Clinton High
School, Appleton Academy at New Ipswich, N. H., and in Tufts
College, from which he graduated in 1880. He then studied law
and was admitted to the bars in Iowa and Dakota territory, but
did not practice his profession. He came West in 1882, and after
a sojourn of six months in Iowa, came to North Dakota in March,
1883, when the present metropolis of Ramsey county was just be
ginning its existence. He remained there about four years and
then came to Grand Forks in September, 1887. He formed a busi
ness connection with the Vermont Loan & Trust Company, and
has been one of the officers of that corporation and a managing
officer at Grand Forks ever since.
Mr. Wilder has never desired political preferment and has
never held an elective office. He has, however, taken an active
interest in public affairs and his influence has always been on the
side of improved conditions in municipal affairs, and to a larger
citizenship in every way. The city of Grand Forks is largely
indebted to him and his efforts in securing its fine public library
building. He was greatly interested in the organization of and
was instrumental in procuring a gift for the erection of a library
building from Mr. Carnegie and aided in securing donations from
citizens for the site. He was appointed a member of the first
public library board and has continued on the board ever since,
having been continuously elected its president. Mr. Wilder was
an enthusiastic member of the Pioneer Club from his arrival in
the city until it was superseded by the Commercial Club, and has
also been an active member of the Commercial Club from its or
ganization. He is a member of the Franklin Club, and also of the
Audubon Society.
Mr. Wilder was married September 20, 1893, at Geneseo, N.
Y., to Miss Mary E. Booth. They have one daughter, Marjorie
Booth Wilder, born January 9, 1896.
Herman Winterer, a native of Philadelphia, Penn., was
born January 1, 1857, and is a son of Otto and Francisca

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FRANK W. WILDER
BIOGRAPHY 1151
(Kohlifrath) Winterer, both natives of Ettenheim, Grand Duchy
of Baden, Germany. The father learned the locksmith's trade
in his native land, and after coming to this country in his early
manhood, worked in a locomotive shop in Philadelphia, and was
married there. In 1858 he settled with his family on a land claim
in Sibley county, Minnesota. Nine years later, in 1867, the family
moved onto a farm in Nicollet county, near Lake Prairie, where
he lived to the time of his decease, in 1889. His wife died in 1882,
leaving a large family of children.
Our subject made good use of such educational advantages as
he had in the district schools, and by study at home at odd times
during his boyhood, and then helped himself by teaching so that
he was able to attend the high school at Le Sueur. His aim and
desire were to fit himself for the legal profession, and with that
in view entered the University of Minnesota, in 1877, and com
pleted a four years' course of study, and in 1882 was graduated
from the law department of the University of Iowa.
In the spring of 1883, Mr. Winterer went to Valley City, N.
D., and began his career as a lawyer. He had no capital other
than his native abilities, but firm in his determination to succeed,
faced every discouragement with courage and soon made his in
fluence felt. A few months after settling at Valley City he
became associated as a partner with Judge Seth Mills, whose de
cease soon afterward left Mr. Winterer to carry on the practice
alone for a time. Later his younger brother, Edward, joined him;
the firm being Winterer & Winterer — a name which soon became
well known through a successful and growing practice.
Mr. Winterer has been somewhat active in political matters,
and in 1890 was elected state 's attorney for Barnes county on the
Democratic ticket, by a large majority in a hotly contested elec
tion. Two years later and again in 1894, he was re-elected by a
unanimous vote of the county; and at the end of his term his
brother became his successor in the office. His conduct of the
office was efficient; among the important matters litigated being
certain tax cases growing out of the Northern Pacific land grant.
Mr. Winterer has declined judicial positions on several occa
sions, preferring the emoluments of his practice, which takes
him into the state and federal courts of North and South Dakota,

1152 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
Minnesota and Iowa, and in 1898 he was admitted to practice in
the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Winterer takes an active
interest in affairs aside from his professional work. He was
president of the board of education of Valley City for ten years.
He was for many years vice-president, and is now president of
the First National Bank of Valley City.
He belongs to the State Bar Association, the American Bar
Association, and has served as president of the District Bar
Association, and was recently one of the twelve lawyers recom
mended to the governor of the state for appointment to the
supreme judgeship. He is vice-president of the Middle West Fire
Insurance Company, which does business throughout North
Dakota and parts of Minnesota, deals largely in real estate, and
owns several valuable farms. He is actively identified with
fraternal orders, being past grand commander in Masonry, a
member of Knights of Pythias, a member of El Zagol Temple of
the Mystic Shrine, at Fargo, and of the Ancient Order of United
Workmen. Mr. Winterer is a lover of hunting and fishing, and at present
is president of the Game and Fish Board of Control for the state
of North Dakota.
On January 1, 1887, Mr. Winterer married Emma A., daugh
ter of Mr. Cyrus G. Myrick, of Le Suer, who was noted for her
learning and scholarly attainments.
Mrs. Winterer is an alumnae of the Le Suer High School, and
is a woman of culture and refinement, who presides with dignity
and womanly grace over their happy home. They have four
children, viz. : Florence Nightingale, Franceska Eloise,
Hermione and Harriet Marion.
Victor Scott Wisner, D. D. S., is one of the substantial citizens
of Grand Forks county, North Dakota, and prominent in his
profession at Larimore, his place of residence. He is a native of
Florida, Orange county, New York, and was born March 18, 1856,
William P. and Mary (Roe) Wisner, his mother being of a noted
Orange county family. He had good educational advantages in
his boyhood, and after graduating from Newburgh, N. Y., High
School, spent some time clerking in a bank there. About 1880,
Dr. Wisner joined the rush of settlers to North Dakota and took

BIOGRAPHY 1153
up his residence at Grand Forks, in the summer of that year. He
at once secured a homestead and tree claim and lived on them,
and got them broken up and subdued, and while thus employed
bought an additional half section, making his holdings 640 acres.
Being now in a position to carry out a purpose which he had long
cherished, of fitting himself for the dental profession, he took a
course of study at the Northwestern Dental College, Chicago,
where he graduated. Returning to Grand Forks, he began the
practice of his profession, but in 1892 removed to Larimore, his
present home.
Dr. Wisner is a Republican, and has been actively identified
with public and civic affairs since settling at Larimore. He
served four years as city auditor, was four years a member of the
city council, and in 1905 was elected mayor for a term of four
years. At the November election of 1908 he was elected to the
Eleventh Legislative Assembly of North Dakota, and served on
a number of important committees, and faithfully discharged his
duties for the best interests of the Fifth district, from which he
was elected.
Dr. Wisner has devoted a great deal of time to the duties of
his office since he became mayor, and has been a leader in
numerous improvements and public utilities, such as paving,
curbing and filling streets, laying sidewalks, providing for public
parks, etc. Dr. Wisner is a leader in social life of the young
city, and in the Masonic Order takes a lively interest, having
passed all the chairs in the Blue Lodge, and served as secretary
of his lodge, and as master for three years.
On May 31, 1893, Dr. Wisner married Miss Lillian M., daugh
ter of Robert W. and Elizabeth (Durling) DeKay, of Warwick,
N. Y. William Horace Witherstine, M. D., of Grand Forks, was born
November 7, 1880, at Dover, Minn., the son of Dr. Horace H. and
Amelia Witherstine. Father, a prominent physician of Olmstead
county, Minnesota, and member of the state legislature. Parents
are both descendants from German stock.
Our subject, William Horace, received his preliminary edu
cation in the district schools of Rochester, Minn., and his college
course at the Chicago University, graduated from the Rush Med-

1154 HI3T0RY OF RED RIVER VALLEY
ieal College in 1904, 1904 to 1906 was spent in the Cook County
Hospital, as assistant surgeon, and after one year of practice at
Rochester, Minn., removed to Grand Forks, N. D., August, 1907,
and began the practice of his profession. He is a member of the
Southern Minnesota Medical Society, Minnesota State Medical
Society, and the American Medical Society. He is a Mason,
Knight Templar, Knight of Pythias, and a member of many
other local fraternal and social societies.
Dr. Witherstine was married at Joliet, 111., to Miss Ida A.
Dahlen, June 1, 1906. One child, Ruth L., born to this union,
died in infancy.
John Henry Worst, president of the North Dakota Agricul
tural College, is a native of Ashland county, Ohio, where he was
born on a farm, December 23, 1850, and is of Holland descent.
He is the son of George and Margaret Worst and was educated
at Smithville (Ohio) Academy and Ashland (Ohio) University.
He was a farmer, followed mercantile pursuits for a period, and
also was editor prior to 1883, when he came to North Dakota,
taking up his residence on a homestead in Emmons county, this
state. From 1883 to 1889 he was superintendent of the public
schools of Emmons county, and at the last named date was elected
a member of the state senate from the twenty-sixth legislative
district, and serAred in that capacity from 1889 to 1894. In 1895
he was elected lieutenant governor and served in that capacity
until 1896, when he was made president of the North Dakota Agri
cultural College and director of the government experiment sta
tion, both of whieh positions he is still holding. Dr. Worst is a
Free Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias, and is a member
also of the Elks.
October, 1876, he was married, in Wayne county, Ohio, to
Susan Wohlgamuth. Three children have been granted to them,
as follows: Olive Jeanette, Clayton Le Roy and Lloyd Warner.
Mr. and Mrs. Worst are members of the German Baptist church.
Gustav B. Wollan was born in Glenwood, Minn., on Septem
ber 21, 1877, and is the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Casper T.
Wollan, who were both natives of Norway and came to America
when they were each twelve years of age. They were married
at Glenwood on January 10, 1875, and made it their home ever

BIOGRAPHY 1155
afterward, where Mr. Wollan has followed the general mer
cantile business since 1871. He was also instrumental in organ
izing the Fremad Association, a stock company, in 1874, and
since then has been its president and general manager and is
still its active head. Mr. Wollan is also interested in banking
and the lumber business at Glenwood. Mr. and Mrs. Wollan
were the parents of nine children, eight of whom are now living.
Gustav B. finished the high school and entered Luther College
at Decorah, Iowa, in the fall of 1893, at the age of sixteen years.
Four years later he graduated from that institution, and for
one year was engaged in teaching English and Greek at the
Glenwood Academy at Glenwood, Minn. He then took a posi
tion as bookkeeper in the Pope County Bank and was soon
promoted to assistant cashier and remained in this capacity for
three years. His next position was with the Fremad Association,
for which he was advertising manager about two years, and in
the spring of 1903 he became a partner in the Gopher State
Printing Company, publishers of the "Glenwood Gopher," of
which he was editor until the dissolution of the firm early in
1905. He was married on June 15, 1903, to Minnie S. Bergh,
of St. Paul, Minn., and lived in Glenwood until 1905. He then
moved to St. Paul, where he was employed for a time by the
American Guaranty Company. In September of the same year
he entered the employ of the M. A. Hanna Coal Company; in
1907 he resigned this position to become the northwest editor of
the Duluth Daily News Tribune, and on April 1, 1908, he accepted
the position of managing editor of the Barnesville Record-
Review. In the 1901 session of the Minnesota Legislature, Mr.
WoUan served as clerk of the reapportionment and appropria
tions committees ; in the 1903 and 1905 sessions he was assistant
secretary of the State Senate. He was the first president of the
North Central Minnesota Retail Lumbermen's Association, and
declined a re-election. He was for three years a director of the
Minnesota Retail Grocers' and General Merchants' Association
for the Seventh Congressional District.
Mrs. Wollan is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ole O. Bergh,
both natives of Norway. She was born in St. Paul on June 13,
1880. Mr. and Mrs. Bergh have three children — Arthur Bergh

1156 HISTORY OF RED RIVER VALLEY"
is the weU-known violinist and composer of New York city, and
Alice now ranks among- the leading amateur pianists of St. Paul.
Mrs. Wollan began the study of the piano at six years of age,
and at the time of her marriage was generally recognized as the
best lady pianist and accompanist in the Twin Cities, with one
exception. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wollan were reared in the Lutheran faith
and are members of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod.

INDEX.

Aborigines, The, 538.
Academy Sacred Heart, 517.
Acreage and Productions, 242.
Admission, Proclamation, 65.
Advises Peace, 276.
Affiliation Plan, 305.
Agassiz Lake, 26.
Age, Ice, 24.
Age, Ice Time Since, 30.
Agriculture, 194.
Agriculture and Labor, 68.
Agricultural College, N. D., 306.
Agricultural Eesources, 791.
Agricultural Society, Cass Co., 511.
Alley, W. H., 948.
Along Eed Biver, 1870-71, 578.
Arnold, Horace P., 646,
Aspects and Conditions, 583.
Assembly, First Sessions of, 70.
Association, Northwestern Savings,
507.
Association, Old Settlers, 96.
Association, State Fair, 512.
Association, Young Men's Christian,
515.
Association, Young Men's Christian,
Grand Forks, 620.
Auditors, 67.
Bachelors Grove, 603.
Bailey, Walter D., 869.
Ballad of the Bed, 343.
Banks and Bankers, 505.
Banks and Banking, 882.
Bank, Bronson State, 930.
Bank, Citizens' State, 930.
Bank, Citizens', of Lisbon, 770.
Bank, Fargo National, 507.
Bank, First National, Fargo, 505.
Bank, First National, Hallock, 930.
Bank, First National, Hawley, 824.
Bank, First National, Moorhead, 805.

Bank, First National, Warren, 848.
Bank, First State, Lancaster, 931.
Bank, Moorhead National, 805.
Bank, Moorhead State, 806.
Bank, Northern Trust, 507.
Bank of Orleans, 931.
Bank, Bed Biver Valley National, 506.
Bank, State, of Alvarado, 848.
Bank, State, of Donaldson, 930.
Bank, State, Hawley, 824.
Bank, State, Humboldt, 931.
Bank, State, of Karlstad, 930.
Bank, State, of Kennedy, 930.
Bank, State, of Lisbon, 769.
Bank, State, of Orleans, 930.
Bank, State, of Pelan, 931.
Bank, of St. Vincent, 929.
Bank, State, Warren, 847.
Bank, The, Commercial, 508.
Bank, Swedish-American, 848.
Barnes County, 700.
Barnesville, 825.
Battalion, Hatehe's, 574.
Baptist, Ordained, 432.
Become Chief, 275.
Beginning, Grafton's, 678.
Belcourt, Father, 407.
Bench and Bar, Bansom County, 773.
Bench and Bar, Kittson County, 944.
Berg Studio, 632.
Black Hills by Ox Cart, 333.
Blakley, Bobert, 600.
Blood Always Tells, 273.
Biographical Sketches, Old Settlers,
133.
Birth, The County's, 680.
Board of Trade, Warren, 849.
Boat, Novel Ferry, 664.
Boating on Bed Biver, 339.
Bogstad, President, 817.
Botanical Investigation, 185.
Breckenridge, 909.

1157

1158

INDEX

Bristol & Sweet Harness Co., 520.
Buffalo, 536.
Buffalo, Disappearance of, 575.
Buffalo Hunt, 554.
Buffalo in Numbers, 663.
Buildings, 814.
Buildings and Grounds, 304.
Building Becord, 317.
Builders, The Mound, 539.
Business Concerns, 804.
Buttz and Colton Contest, 770.
Buttzville, 783.
By-Laws, 107.
Camp Hayes, 743-744.
Camp McClaren, 745.
Cart Trails, The Old, 584.
Casey, Prof. Thomas, 889.
Cashel, John L., 681.
Casselton, 535.
Catfish, Aristocracy of, 481.
Cathedral, Gethsemane, 523.
Cavalier County, 650.
Cavalier, Charles Letter, 244.
Central Position, 956.
Chapin, J. B., 530.
Chase, Kelsey D., 870.
Chesley, James A., 521.
Chiefs, Last of, 278.
Chief Votes, 277.
Christianson Drug Co., 519.
Churches, The, 376.
Churches, Barnesville, 827.
Church, Baptist, 431.
Church, Baptist, Grand Forks, 619.
Church, First Baptist, 527.
Church, Catholic, 376.
Church, Catholic, Crookston, 895.
Church, Catholic, Grand Forks, 618.
Church, Catholic, Hallock, 942.
Church, Catholic, Moorhead, 818.
Church, Children of Israel, 619.
Church, Christian Scientists, 619.
Church, Congregational, 433.
Church, Congregational, Crookston,
903.
Church, Congregational, Moorhead,
819.
Church, Episcopal, 427.
Church, Episcopal, Crookston, 901.
Church, Episcopal, Hallock, 942.
Church, Episcopal, Moorhead, 818.
Church, Evangelical Association, 530.
Church, Evangelical, Norwegian, 829.
Churches, Fargo, 523.
Church, German Evangelical Society,
619.

Churches, Grand Forks, 618.
Church, Evangelical Lutheran, 928.
Church, Hauges, Lutheran, 902.
Churches, Lisbon, 767.
Church, Lutheran, Moorhead, 819.
Church, Norwegian Lutheran, 928.
Church, Norwegian Evangelical Luth
eran, Fargo, 527.
Church, Norwegian Lutheran Synod,
619.
Church, Pontopidan Lutheran, 530.
Church, St. Marks' English Evangel
ical Lutheran, 529.
Church, St. Paul's Parish, 619.
Church, St. Paul's Evangelical Luth
eran, 528.
Church, Swedish Lutheran, Fargo,
529.
Church, Swedish Evangelical Luth
eran, 927-928.
Church, Synod, Lutheran, 830.
Church, Trinity, Lutheran, 619.
Church, Zion, Lutheran, Grand Forks,
619.
Church, United Lutheran, 857.
Church, Lutheran, Ulen, 829.
Churches of Kittson County, 926.
Church, Our Savior, 902.
Church, Other Organizations, 619.
Churches, Organized, 431.
Church, Jewish Synagogue, 530.
Church, Broadway, Methodist, 525.
Church, First M. E., 526.
Church, M. E., Crookston, 899.
Church, M. E., Hallock, 942.
Church, M. E., Moorhead, 818.
Church, M. E., Valley City, 702.
Church, M. E., Warren, 852.
Church, Union, Hawley, 824.
Church, Scandinavian Baptist, 528.
Church, Scandinavian Methodist, 858.
Church, Swedish Baptist, Fargo, 528.
Church, Swedish Mission, 856-928.
Church, Swedish Mission, Hallock,
942.
Church, Synod, Warren, 859.
Church, Hope, Presbyterian, 927.
Church, Presbyterian, Bismarck, 432.
Church, Presbyterian, 432.
Church, Presbyterian, Crookston, 898.
Church, Presbyterian, Grand Forks,
618.
Church, Presbyterian, Hallock, 942.
Church, Presbyterian, Moorhead, 817.
Church, Presbyterian, Warren, 854.
City, Organization of, 499.
Clause Inserted, 294.

INDEX

1159

Clay County, 789.
Clerks County, 836.
Clergy, The, 525.
Climate, 962.
Club, Commercial, Fargo, 508.
College, Aakers' Business, 515.
College, Concordia, 811.
College, Dakota Business, 515.
College, Eclectic, 892.
College, Fargo, 515.
Coming of Swiss, 955.
Commercial, 518.
Comstock, 830.
Communication, 718.
Cooper, Thomas E., 686.
Coquart, Claude G., 424.
Council, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61.
County Auditors, Grand Forks, 629.
County Building, 931.
County, Cass, Early Settlement of,
463.
Counties, Creation of, 586.
Country, Isolation of, 545.
County Organized, 720.
Court, District, 727.
Court House, 495.
Crookston, 887.
Cultivation, 236.
Dakota, Launching of, 354.
Dalrymple Farm, 232.
Darrow, Dr. Edward M., 535.
Davis, E. C, 869.
Dead Are Bemembered, 270.
Dedication, 814.
Dedicated, Houses of Worship, 432.
de Lendreeie, O. J., 519.
Description of Country, 718.
Development, Forty Years of, 73.
Dog Train, Voyageurs of, 481.
Dogs Kept Them Warm, 662.
Drug Stores, Grand Forks, 629.
Duluth Elevator Co., 633.
Dumoulin, J. S. N., 396.
East Grand Forks, 647.
Egbert, Capt. George, 531.
Enderlin City, 975.
Era, Archean, 18.
Events, 802.
Expedition, Cunningham 's, 575.
Expedition, Major Long's, 546.
Failure as Farmers, 271.
Failures, Causes of, 235.
Fair Grounds, 846.
Fair, State, 797.

Falsom, John B., 521.
Fargo Bridge & Iron Co., 519.
Fargo, City of, 485.
Fargo College, 321.
Fargo Cornice Co., 519.
Fargo Hotels, 522.
Fargo Infirmary of Osteopathy, 518.
Fargo of Today, 503.
Fargo, Township Organization of,
494.
Farmer Indians, 295.
Felt Drouth Coming, 272.
Fire Department, Grand Forks, 628.
Fire Department, Moorhead, 807.
Fire of 1893, 496.
First Day, 111.
First Schoolhouse, Hawley, 824.
First Steamer on Bed Biver, 569.
Flouring Mills, 218.
Fontaine, Louis, 872.
Fort Abercrombie, 153, 565, 694.
Fort Bansom, 716.
Forum, The, 510.
Fourth of July on Sheyenne, 741.
Fowt & Porterfield, 519.
Fram, Norwegian Weekly, 510.
Fruits, Wild, 964.
Fur Companies, The, 540.
Fur Trade, The Grip of, 562.
Generals, Attorney, 67.
Georgetown, S25.
Gifts, 306.
Glyndon, 820.
Gold Excitement, 748.
Good Haul, 295.
Government, 304. ,
Government Granted, 47.
Governors, 66.
Governors, Lieutenant, 66.
Governor, Vote for, 64.
Graduates, 303-314.
Grand Forks Bottling Works, 632.
Grand Forks City, 613.
Grand Forks County, 537.
Grand Forks County Organized, 588.
Grand Forks Police Chief, 627.
Grandin Farm, 233.
Griggs, Capt. Alexander, 341.
Gronna, Asle J., 671.
Growth, Wonderful, 679.
Guard, National, 461.
Guests of God, 166.
Haggart, John E., 531.
Holeomb, Geo. E., 948.
Hallock of Today, 940.

1160

INDEX

Hallock Village, 937.
Hancock Bros., 520.
Harlan, Dr. W. F., 631.
Harrington, Hubert, 519.
Harvesting Machines, 356.
Hawley, 821.
Higher Education, 298.
Historical, 729.
History, Educational, Cass County,
512.
History, Geological, 15.
His Oratory, 278.
Hodgson, W. D., 521.
Holes, James, 531.
Holton, Hon. John, 880.
Honorary Members, 116.
Hotel, Arlington Park, 625.
Hotels and Early Boarding Houses,
623.
Hotel, Columbia, 522.
Hotel, Continental, 522.
Hotel, Dacota, 624.
Hotel, Elliott, 522.
Hotel, Frederick, 625.
Hotel, Gardner, 523.
Hotel, Headquarter, 522.
Hotel, The Ingalls, 624.
Hotel, Metropole, 523.
Hotel, Northern, 626.
Hotel, The Prescott, 523.
Hotel, The Waldorf, 522.
Hotel, Winship, 163.
Hospital, Deaconess, 620.
Hospital, Guard-house, 717.
Hospital, St. John's, 516.
Hospital, St. Luke's, 517.
Hospital, Swedish, 819.
House, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61,
62.
House, Fargo, 522.
House, Father Genin Mission, 493.
House, Martin, 522.
House, The Park, 624.
House, Sherman, 522.
Houston, Bobert, 869.
How Originated, 812.
Hubbard, Newton K., 534.
Hudson Bay Fur Company, 370.
Icelanders in Valley, 251.
Incorporated, Warren, 846.
Immigrants, 954.
Immigration, 870.
Indians, Claim, 293.
Indians, The, 259.
Indians, 718.
Inkster, George T., 606.

Insurance, Commissioners of, 68.
Instructors, Number of, 303.
Items of Interest, 817.
International, The, 572.
Judges, District Court, 69.
Judges, Marshall County, 836.
Judges, Supreme Court, 69.
Judicial History, 873.
Keeney, Gordon J.. 532.
Kittson County, 923, 961.
Kurtz, 821.
Land Company, Puget Sound, 490.
Landmarks, Old, 712.
Lane, William J., 521.
Larimore, City of, 635.
Legislation, 237.
Legislative and Judicial Districts,
590.
Lisbon City, 759.
Little Crow, 284.
Little Fish, 274.
Local Politics, 877.
Location, 717.
Lodges, Crookston, 893.
Lodges, Valley City, 702.
Losses Not Beimbursed, 296.
Lounsberry, Clement A., 533.
Lowell, Jacob, 534.
Lower Bed Biver Valley, 953.
Luger Furniture Co., 519.
Lumber and Timber, 361.
Maloney, Capt. Hugh, 624.
Maloney, Charles, 624.
Manitoba Opened Up, 576.
Manufacturers, Grand Forks, 621.
Marshall County, 831.
Martin, Terranee, 532.
MayviUe Normal School, 312.
McCullough, Michael, 837.
McHench, Andrew, 531.
Mclntire, Ezra E., 889.
Members, 70-71.
Merchants Transfer Co., 627.
Miscellaneous, 933.
Metal Culvert Co., 520.
Military, 880.
Minnesota, 788.
Minnesota a Summer Resort, 795.
Mines, 718.
Minutes, Official, 110.
Miscellaneous, 314.
Missions, Indian, 416-419.
Mix, Maj. Charles H., 905.

INDEX

1161

Moorhead Citizen, 808.
Moorhead Independent, 808.
Moorhead News, 807.
Mortgage Companies, 521.
Navigation on Bed Biver, 499.
Nelson County, 668.
Nelson, Edward, 948.
Newspapers, Barnes County, 703.
Newspapers, Enderlin, 776.
Newspapers, Kittson County, 935.
Newspapers, Bed Biver Valley, 441.
Nicollet, Jean N., 552.
Normal School Building, 313.
Norman County, 967.
North Dakota State, 62.
Northwestern Mortgage Co., 521.
Norwegians and Icelanders, 246.
Notice, Election, 45.
Nyvoll, Bev. J. A., 819.
Mail, Passenger and Freight, 336.
Mail Boute, First, 220.
Officers, Marshall County, 835.
Officers, Territorial, 47.
Ofsthun, C. O., 948.
Oldest Settler, 148.
Old Settlers, Bepresentative, 530.
Old Timers in Valley, 549.
One Child, 277.
O'Neil, Harry, 532.
Opportunities, 796.
Organization, 304.
Organization, Clay County, 801.
Organization, Polk County, 866.
Organization of Towns, 924.
Organization, Township, 728, 834.
Other Villages, 787.
Owego Colony, 733.
Owen, David Dale, 558.
Ox Cart, Pioneers of, 482.
Past and Present, 847.
Pembina County, 650.
Pinkham, Hon. Nahum B., 533.
Pioneers, Cass County, 481.
Plat Townsite, 492.
Political History, 450.
Political, Polk County, 876.
Political Eepresentation, 562.
Polk County, 860.
Population, 593, 868.
Population, Wealth, 234.
Postoffice, First in North Dakota, 561.
Postoffice, History, 616.
Potatoes, Other Vegetables, 964.

Press, The, 509.
Public Instruction, Superintendent, 67.
Quarters, 717.
Bailroads, 872.
Eailroads, Approach of, 577.
Bailroads, Commissioners of, 68.
Bailroads, Development by, 231.
Bailroad, Great Northern, 349.
Bailroad, Northern Pacific, 346.
Bailroads of Bed Biver Valley, 346.
Eailways, Street, 496.
Bamson County, 707.
Basmussen, Bemis & Co., 626.
Beasons of Mortality, 270.
Bed Men Bury the Hatchet, 566.
Bed Biver Valley Marble Works, 628.
Bed Biver Valley Mortgage Co., 521.
Beminiscences of Fifty Years, 661.
Beservation, 718.
Besources of Minnesota, 244.
Bespected at Washington, 276.
Richland County, 693.
Biver Cart, 332.
Boberts, S. G., 533.
Eooske, Patrick H., 774.
Burnley, M., Company, 633.
Bush, Came With, 678.
Sabin, 825.
Sampson, Bernhard, 869.
Saugstad, Hon. J., 880.
School and Its Work, 318.
Schools, Barnes County, 703.
School, Bible Institute, 816.
School of Commerce, 815.
Schools, Crookston, 887.
Schools, Grand Forks, 617.
School of Elocution, 815.
Schools, Enderlin, 777.
Schools, Fargo Public, 514.
School for Girls, 815.
Schools of Hallock, 941.
Schools of Kittson County, 933.
School Management, 314.
School, Manual Training, 815.
Schools, Marshall County, 838.
Schools, Moorhead, 808.
School, Moorhead Normal, 809.
School of Music, 815.
Schools of Nelson County, 670.
School, Normal Valley City, 704.
Schools, N. W. Experiment Farm, 891.
Schools, Polk County, 881.
School Repository, 816.
Schools, State Normal, 310.

1162

INDEX

School, The Classic, 814.
School, The Normal, 815.
School of Science, 320.
School System, 794.
Schools of Ransom County, 753.
Second Day, 116.
Secretary and Treasurer, 131.
Selkirk Colony, The, 543.
Senator, 70.
Senate Bill 196, 124.
Settlement, Early, 862.
Settlements, Forest River, 605.
Settlement, The First, 581.
Settlement, The Northwood, 596.
Settlements, The Timber, 593.
Settlements, Upper Turtle Biver, 599.
Settlers, Our Early, 676.
Settlers, Old Barnes County, 704.
Settlers, Timber, Bemarks On, 607.
Settlers of Other Groves, 604.
Shack, Old Sod, 114.
Sheldon, 778.
Sheldon Long Ago, 779.
Sibley Trail, 738.
Sioux War, 280.
Societies, Lisbon, 766.
Societies, Warren, 850.
Soil and Climate, 793.
Soldiers' Home, 768.
St. Vincent, Minn., 943.
Stage Coach, Passengers by, 483.
Stage Line, 570.
State, Secretaries of, 66.
Steamboats, 221.
Steamboat Era, Beginning of, 566.
Steamboat Line, 803.
Stephens, Hon. A. D., 879.
Stevens, T. T., 600.
Store Houses, 717.
Story, Old Timers, 136.
Stoughton, James M., 599.
Strabane Township, 606.
Subsistence, 718.
Supply Depots, 718.
Survey, The Government, 595.
Swem, T. M., Photographer, 520.
Tavern, Budge's, 163.
Temple, Masonic, 496.
Territory, Dakota, 45, 412.
Thimens, Capt. Charles B., 342.
Thorson, N. Anthony, 906.

Time, Cenozoic, 21.
Time, Mesozoic, 20.
Time, Paleozoic, 18.
Topography, 32.
Tower City, 536.
Township, Turtle River, 598.
Traders and Trappers, 555.
Traill County, 689.
Trail, Fort Totten, 609.
Trails, Old Wagon, 608.
Transformation, 960.
Treasurers, 67.
Ulen, 827.
Union Commercial College, 631.
University, North Dakota, 298.
United States Land Office, 592, 875.
Valley City, 701.
Valley City Normal School, 314.
Walker Bros. & Hardy, 518.
Walsh County, 675.
Walsh, Edmund M., 864.
Warren, City of, 841.
Warren Register, 851.
Warren Townsite Co., 845.
Warrior, Not Great, 274.
Water and Wood, 718.
Water Works, Grand Forks, 628.
Way, Walked All, 677.
Wedding Festivities, 135.
Wenzel, Charles, 838.
Wesley College, 324.
Wilkin County, 908.
Wonderful Fertility, 963.
Wheat Farming, Old and New Meth
ods, 240.
"Wheat for Red Biver, 954.
Wheat Production, 241.
Wheat Eaising, 212.
Wheat Baising Near Ft. Abercrom
bie, 231.
Wheat Raising Near Pembina River,
223.
"Wheat Baising, Selkirk Colony, 213.
Wheelock & Wheelock, 521.
AVhite, W. H., Lumber Co., 520.
Woods, Major Pope, Captain, 559.
Yetter, Elmer C, 948.

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Aaker, Hans H., 973.
Ackerman, William, 174.
Ames, Francis W., 974.
Anderson, Anton O., 975.
Anderson, Wm. J., 173.
Aantson, I. E., 774.
Austinson, A. T., 976.
Austinson, Torkle, 978.
Bailey, William J., 978.
Beecher, David H., 979.
Blaisdell, Hon. Alfred, 980.
Bolstad, Ole, 982.
Bosard, James H., 177.
Bouvette, Joseph E., 965.
Brandt, John F., 982.
Brown, Gen. William H., 983.
Bruce, Andrew A., 985.
Burke, Gov. John, 985.
Buttz, Maj. Charles W., 784.
Camp, Maj. William, 133.
Campbell, William, 173.
Canniff, James A., 987.
Carmody, Hon. John, 987.
Catlin, Frank A., 989.
Catlin, Irving S., 988.
Cavalier, Charles T., 167.
Cavanagh, Dr. James E., 990.
Christianson, Anton, 991.
Clifford, George B., 991.
Colburn, Adna, 993.
Colby, Charles E., 994.
Comstock, Solomon G., 995.
Cooper, E. C, 996.
Crum, Taylor, 996.
Cummings, E. D., 997.
Cyr, Alphonse, M. D., 998.
Darrow, Daniel C, M. D., 998.
Davy, W. H., 1000.
DeLaney, James A., 166.

DeBeemer, Joseph B., 1001.
DeLandrecie, O. J., 999.
Diemert, William H., 1002.
Dinnie Brothers, 1003.
Driscoll, Dennis W., 171.
Duklet, Peter M., 1004.
Dunlop, Stevenson, 1005.
Edwards, Maj. A. W., 181.
Evans, Arne, 1006,
Evans, Ole, 1006.
Feragen, Johannes O., 1007.
Fisk, Hon. Charles J., 1008.
Fretz, Eugene, Jr., 1010.
Gaunt, John A., 1010.
Gilbertson, H. O., 1011.
Gilbreath, W. C, 1012.
Glaisyer, Herbert, 1012.
Glass, William J., 1014.
Goddard, William C, 1015.
Godfrey, Joseph V., 1015.
Gram, Charles A., 1016.
Gray, Enos, 1016.
Griggs, Alexander, 170.
Grover, H. H., 1017.
Hagen, Olaf J., B. Sc, M. D., 1018.
Hagen, T. J., 1019. ¦'
Haggart, Hon. John E., 179.
Hallock, Charles, 942.
Hammet, William G., 1019.
Hanna, Hon. Louis B., 1020.
Hansbrough, Henry C, 1021.
Hansen, Christian M., 1023.
Hanson, Nels, 1023.
Hanson, Oliver S., 1024.
Hassell, Louis K., 1024.
Hauge, Rev. S. G., 1025.
Hedenberg, R. E., 949.
Heimark, Dr. Knut, O. E., 1026.

1163

1164

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

Helgeson, Knud, 1027.
Herring, Fred, 1028.
Hitterdal, Mrs. Lars O., 1030.
Holes, James, 1032.
Holman, Iver, 1031.
Holt, Ben F., 1033.
Houglum, Andrew O., 1034.
Hubbard, Newton K., 1034.
Hunter, Adison I., 1035.
Hunter, Kenneth C, 1036.
Jardine, Jno. B., 171.
Johnson, Andrew, 1036.
Johnson, Fred, 1037.
Johnson, Julius C, 1039.
Johnston, John F., 1038.
Kennedy, James, 1040.
Kiefer, Philip H., 1041.
Klemmetson, Elling, 1042.
Klemmetson, Helge, 1043.
Knudson, Oliver, 1045.
Knudson, Oscar C. G., 1045.
Konzen, P. H., 949.
Lambert, Frank, Jr., 921.
La Moure, Judson, 1046.
Lamphere, George N., 1047.
Landt, Arthur B., 1047.
Larimore, Newel G., 1048.
Lewis, Eobert S., 1049.
Linwell, Hon. Martin V., 1051.
Mackall, Benjamin F., 1052.
Madison, Edward J., 1053.
Marden, Charles S., 1054.
Mathews, James H., 1055.
McCartan, Arthur A., 1057.
McCoy, Eobert H., 1058.
McDonald, Aaron, 1059.
McDonald, Donald, 1060.
McGrath, Dennis F., 1061.
McGrath, John, 1062.
McGrath, Thomas, 1064.
McKendry, James C, 1065.
McPhee, John D., 1065.
Melbye, O. C, 1066.
Merritt, William H., 1067.
Miller, Charles E., 1068.
Misner, Harvey C, 1069.
Mitterling, Birt E., 1070.
Mooney, William J., 1071.
Murphy, Michael F., 1072.
Nash, William C, 1073.
Nedburge, Knud, 1074.
Nelson, Christopher E., 1075.

Nelson, Edward, 951.
Nelson, E. A., 951.
Nisbet, Thomas, 1075.
Norman, Moses, 1076.
Nykreim, S. M. T., 1077.
Paulson, Christian, 1078.
Peake, Amasa P., 1079.
Peirce, Joseph D., 1081.
Perley, George E., 1082.
Peterson, Axel W., 1083.
Poupore, Joseph R., 1084.
Price, William J., 1086.
Pugh, Thomas H., 1087.
Red River Brick Corporation, 1123.
Beiersgaarden, Even O., 1088.
Reiersgord, Ole E., 1087.
Richardson, Luther B., 1089.
Eoberts, Mitchel, 917.
Boberts, Samuel G., 1090.
Eounsevall, Dr. A. P., 1091.
Runck, Mathias, 1092.
Eushfeldt, Hans, 1093.
Russell, George C, 1094.
Eutledge, Samuel W., M. D., 1095.
Sandager, Andrew, 1095.
Sarles, E. Y., 1096.
Scarff, Mark Tunis, 1097.
Schroeder, Edward C, 1098.
Schroeder, Henry, 1099.
Scott, John W., 1101.
Scott, Rev. John, 178.
Sharp, James H., 1102.
Shirley, Halvor L., 1103.
Skalet, Ole, 1104.
Skulason, Bardi G., 1105.
Sliper, Peder, 1106.
Sougstad, Otto, 1107.
Spaulding, Burleigh F., 1108.
Spriggs, William, 1110.
Stadum, Norman H., 1111.
Stalley, Fred, 1112.
Stevens, Jerry E., 1113.
Stodder, Louis T., 1113.
Stone, C. B., 1114.
Strandness, Sigve, 1115.
Sundburg, Bengt E., 952.
Syverson, Christopher, 1116.
Syverson, Edward, 1118.
Syverson, Reir, 1118.
Talcott, Frank S., 1119.
Tandberg, Nels, 1120.
Tang, Severt O., 1121.
Terrett, John H., 1122.

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

1165

Thompson, George J., 1124.
Thompson, Peter E., 1124.
Thysell, Nels J., 1127.
Titus, Seymour S., 1129.
Tobiason, Tobias R., 1130.
Twamley, James, 1130.
Tweeton, Henry G., 1132.
Tweeton, John G., 1133.
Twichell, Treadwell, 1134.
Ulen, Ole, 1135.
Vallely, John, 1136.
Van Arnam, George, 1137.
Wall, Aurelius L., 1142.

Wallace, John D., 176.
Walker, Thomas B., 1137.
Webb, Eobert B., 1143.
Welch, Dr. Henry H., 1144.
Weld, Frank H., 1144.
Wheeler, Edwin J., 1145.
Wheeler, Jerome W., 1146.
White, William H., 1147.
Widlund, S. Bernhard, 1148.
Wije, Andrew H., 1149.
Wilder, Frank W., 1149.
Winterer, Herman, 1150.
Wisner, Victor Scott, D.D.S., 1152.
Witherstine, Dr. William H., 1153.
Wollan, Gustav B., 1154.
Worst, John H., 1154.

3 9002 01483